franman 0 #1 April 10, 2006 We had some lovely weather on Saturday morning - the first time in ages that I'd been at the DZ and it wasn't really cloudy/windy. I just did a solo - it was my first jump with my new jumpsuit so I practised doing some turns and tracking - it's great having booties! I pulled at 4 grand and not much seemed to happen for a while - I think my throw was pretty lazy (won't be doing that again!). Just as I thought "huh, this is taking a little while" I moved a bit and then felt the bag lifting off my back. The canopy (a Triathlon 190) opened with loads of line twists - I think that if it hadn't been a Triathlon it would have been big dive territory. I kept an eye on my alti as I was kicking them out and the canopy stayed flat the whole time. I was wondering if the twists were caused by the pilot chute hesitation? If the pilot chute was spinning around in my burble, could that have twisted the lines as well? It was hire kit so I have no idea who packed it or what kind of job they did on it. Any thoughts? Francis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #2 April 10, 2006 A pilot chute in tow a more of a problem than the line twists. Make sure you reported the hesitation to the owner of the rig. They may want to address that. A pilot chute hesitation can cause a less than desirable opening. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
franman 0 #3 April 10, 2006 I'm pretty sure that the pilot chute hesitation was down to my lazy throw - I pretty much let go of it when it was out of the pouch. In future I will definitely be giving it a good throw! I was just curious to know if that was the cause of the twists or if it was just bad luck... Francis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reusch 0 #4 April 10, 2006 Could you tell me what kind of H/C you are jumping with? PC-size and material (F-111/ZeroP)? Regards, Guido Guido Reusch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
upndownshop 0 #5 April 10, 2006 QuoteCould you tell me what kind of H/C you are jumping with? PC-size and material (F-111/ZeroP)? Regards, Guido and what size main it was made for or size of the container Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #6 April 10, 2006 QuoteI'm pretty sure that the pilot chute hesitation was down to my lazy throw - I pretty much let go of it when it was out of the pouch. In future I will definitely be giving it a good throw! You can not throw a pilot chute when traveling a 120 mph. The best you can do is let it go with your arm fully extended.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemini 0 #7 April 11, 2006 It's more likely that body position caused the line twists or that the bag came out of the container unevenly. However the pilot chute hesitation can indicate a problem with the bridle or kill line. The pilot chute and kill line should be checked by a rigger immediately. Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
franman 0 #8 April 11, 2006 It was a Zerox container, as to what size it is, I don't know. I think the pilot chute was F111 - it didn't have a kill-line. Again, I don't know what size it was - looked like a average size pilot chute (?) Francis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #9 April 11, 2006 The PC is shot. I'm 99% sure. Did it seem like a long time between the bag leaving your back, and when the canopy stood you up? A shot PC will take more time to get the bag off your back, and more time to get it to line stretch. While the lines are unstowing, the force of each stow releasing, and the choppy air in your burble will contribute to the bag spinning on it's way up. A PC producing the right amount of drag willpull the bag up fast enough to prevent this from happening. F-111 PC's will wear out, and this is what happens. Especially on rental gear, that sort thing gets overlooked for maintenence. You can't tell by looking at it that it's too worn, only by jumping it. Since the people jumping it are newbies, they don't know enough to recognize the rpoblem, or don;t jump the rig over and over to see a problem develop, or that the problem is consistant. Let the owner of the rig know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
franman 0 #10 April 11, 2006 I don't remember how long the time between the bag leaving and it standing me up was. It was my first jump for a little while so nothing recent to compare it too and I don't think I have enough experience to notice when something like that is out by a small amount (I remember reading something saying that the bag should take 0.6 seconds to line stretch - 0.1 second each way is bad). I will let them know about it and hopefully someone will check it out. Thanks for the advice everyone Francis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
