D-Bag Grommet Abuse

[JohnRich 4]

I noticed something unusual this weekend on a friend's deployment bag: all four of the grommets on the closing flap are beat to heck. He doesn't know what is banging up the grommets like that, and I can't imagine anything located near that point in the gear that would produce such damage. He uses a throw-out pilot chute, so it's not caused by a spring from a spring-loaded pilot chute.

Has anyone seen this before? Any clues as to what is causing the damage?

Two photos are attached:
1) A general view of the D-bag, which contains four closing grommets.
2) A close-up of one of the grommets, showing a sample of the damage.

I've been around a while, and I don't think I've ever seen grommets this banged-up before.

[PhreeZone 20]

Depending on the fabric the Dbag is made of I've seen bags trailing behind under canopy that the grommets bang into each other. I've only seen it on the ZP bag that Aerodyne made years ago since it was so floppy. But I imagine that any thin material bag like that could have the issue pop up.

That is excessive wear. How many jumps are on that bag?

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[GravityGirl 0]

Where is the cypres installed in the rig? Is that location abnormal? Is there a hard edge inside the container that the grommet tags on the way out?

That's strange that it is just the one side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[diablopilot 2]

I would sugest it's a) as Phree sugested b) the bad coming into contact with the ring on the top of the canopy, or c) repeated ground strike and perhapse dragging in that order.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[slotperfect 7]

Sounds like a call to the rig manufacturer is in order (unless of course that's not an OEM d-bag).

While you're helping him out, get him to shorten those stows a bit. They are waaaay too long - inviting a bag lock.

Arrive Safely

John

[matthewcline 0]

I think Diablopilot hit it with option two. Many jumpers drag the D-bag inadvertantly when coming back from the landing ao, also when laying out the rig on a hard packing surface.

Just my opinion.
Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[KevinMcGuire 0]

One possibility is that at deployment time, the flap of the D-bag blows open due to the relative wind and then flops around above the canopy while it is sniveling. It is possible that the grommet on the flap is smacking up against the ring of the Pilot chute attachment point AKA PCA. The ring I'm referring to is often found to be incorporated into the PAC and is there to help prevent the bag from sliding up the bridle.
Another very good possibility is that the rapid link used inside the D-bag for the kill line could also be the causing this type of damage in exactly the same way
Replacing the grommets is not expensive. $5 or $10 bucks max

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

How many jumps are on that bag?

"About a thousand."

[PhreeZone 20]

Tell him to spend about $75 and get a new bag or talk to his rigger about replacing the grommets. If they continue to get worn like that its only a matter of time before one cracks then has a sharp edge showing that can wear on the lines or cut them as it opens.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

Quote

How many jumps are on that bag?

"About a thousand."

How long does your friend expect a D-bag to last without some upkeep?
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[masterrig 1]

The grommets in the picture, appear to be nickel plated brass. Brass, though plated will dent and ding, easily. I would suggest if, the D-bag material is in good condition and little wear, have the grommets replaced with Stainless Steel grommets. If, there is a lot of wear to the bag itself, replace it with a new one from the manufacturer who made the harness-container. I've seen this quite often. I tend to agree with the previously mentioned idea that the grommets bang on the connector link and/or stop ring, while the canopy is fully inflated and in flight.

Chuck

[voosab2150 0]

My d-bag has about 200 jumps on it and has started to get a couple of dents on the grommets, how many jumps would you expect a d-bag to last if it is taken care of?

[darkwing 5]

I have seen similar damage many times. My educated guess is that it occurs just after the canopy is extracted from the bag, when the wind is most vigorous and can flap things around a lot. I think it comes from metal-metal contact between any of the candidate metal in that area: other grommets, the pin, and the rapide link that is often used to hold the bag on.

I think that general flappage during normal flight is a less likely candidate.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[masterrig 1]

I don't have an answer for that but, I'll try to find one for you. I know of one that has lasted for better than 1200 - jumps. From what I've observed, the amount of in-put to the canopy seems to have a lot to do with it.

Chuck

[rushmc 23]

I have seen a packing technique cause this.

When packing on a hard surface they owner was putting his knee on the tail and slider as he rolled the canopy before folding. Too much presure for the brass and it could not have been good on the tail of the canopy either.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[acrojunky 0]

aaaaaaa DAM but really is there some kind of record of the most jumps on one canopy/line set/riser's/rig dane 1000 that's some wear.

[MrHixxx 0]

Have a rigger replace the grommets with stainless steel. That will make the bag last longer and probably the canopy lineset.

-Hixxx

death,as men call him, ends what they call men
-but beauty is more now than dying’s when

[riggerrob 643]

That is a common wear pattern, just worse than usual. Dents in grommets are caused by D-bag grommets slapping each other.

[ianmdrennan 2]

I have over 1000 on my Vortex 2 and the d-bag is still in great shape. I'm about to replace the risers for the first time (because the guide ring has some corrosion) and the BOC spandex pouch is getting replaced. Other than that the rigs in fine condition. If you take care of your gear it should last well over 1000 jumps.

Blues,
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team