harness repair question

[gravitator1 0]

Hi all,

I'm a rigger in australia and I have been given a tandem rig for a repack.

Problem is that is rig has a damaged section of webbing (worn well past the yellow edge thread) which has been repaired by applying another piece of the same type of webbing on top.

I don't think it is an appropiate repair method and have contacted the manufacturer of the gear but didn't manage to get a clear answer.

Can any riggers and/or rig manufactures give their input on this repair method? Is it even legal/ does it void the TSO?

[PhreeZone 20]

Could you post a photo of the damage/repair?

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[gravitator1 0]

I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them...

[jimjumper 25]

Is the repair noted on the packing data card? In the U.S. harness repair or alteration would be considered a major repair and could only be performed by a Master rigger. The data card may give you a source as who did the repair and whether they were allowed to do the repair. If it isn't noted on the card I would be very suspect.

[mark 107]

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Is the repair noted on the packing data card?

While it is common practice to record maintenance information including repairs and alterations, on the packing data card, the only required informations is: date and place of packing, signature and certificate number of the rigger (seal symbol is not required!), and notation of defects found during the inspection.

I have had rigs returned from manufacturers and well-known lofts after alterations, without anything noted on the packing data card, and the it's quite legal.

That said, this does not sound like a repair that a manufacturer or better loft would make.

Mark

[JerryBaumchen 1,365]

Hi mark,

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on the packing data card, the only required informations is: date and place of packing, signature and certificate number of the rigger (seal symbol is not required!), and notation of defects found during the inspection.

You would be amazed how many arguements I have had over this. Most people simply do not know what the FARs require.

Remember, the packing data card was NOT printed and/or sold by the FAA. They are printed by 3rd parties. Just because there is a blank space does NOT mean that the information is REQUIRED.

JerryBaumchen

[jimjumper 25]

wouldn't damage to the harness webbing be considered a defect to the individual container and therefore required to be noted on the data card? I agree that according to the wording the repair doesn't need to be noted but it should be noted as a defect during the inspection/repack. I still would want to know who did the repair and by what authority before I would repack the rig.

[mark 107]

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wouldn't damage to the harness webbing be considered a defect to the individual container and therefore required to be noted on the data card? I agree that according to the wording the repair doesn't need to be noted but it should be noted as a defect during the inspection/repack. I still would want to know who did the repair and by what authority before I would repack the rig.

You know, you're right! I hadn't thought about it that way.

Mark

[davelepka 4]

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it should be noted as a defect during the inspection/repack.

If it's an oversew of webbing on top of the existin harness, maybe it was done without disassembling the rig, hence no 'I' and no 'R' and no mention on the data card?

The other possibility, it's a bandit repair done by a bandit 'rigger'.

[RIGGER 0]

Which type of Tandem System ?

Damage location ?

Please inform.

Well done for the inspection.

Cheers !!!

[gravitator1 0]

It's on a strong tandem rig. The damage is where the L bar link hooks up to the back diagonals.

Both diagonals have been patched. The ends of the new webbing are only hot knifed rather than folded under and sewn.

Now there are four pieces of webbing going through the L bar link. The new webbing can slide up and down the link and get jammed on one side because there are too many pieces of webbing going through the link. I'm worried that this might cause uneven loading on the harness.

The loft that did the repair is a well know loft here and they said that to do it the way the manufacturer wants to do it would involve taking the harness apart which is not viable so they did this instead.........

Strong only told me that this is not the way they would do it but when asked if they would approve of this repair method I received no answer.

I can take some pic tomorrow (forgot to do it today)

Any rig manufactures out there that want to comment? Would they approve of such a repair on their rigs?

Also would this be considerd an modification to the harness as it is no longer as per original specs?

[JerryBaumchen 1,365]

Hi grav,

Just my thoughts:

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The loft that did the repair is a well know loft here and they said that to do it the way the manufacturer wants to do it would involve taking the harness apart

Some times you just have to suck it up and bear the costs of doing it correctly.

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Strong only told me that this is not the way they would do it

I think that this is their answer to your following question.

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Any rig manufactures out there that want to comment? Would they approve of such a repair on their rigs?

No, is that a sufficient answer for you?

From what you have described I would consider it a 'cheap-charlie' repair; not something that should be done (IMO of course).

JerryBaumchen

[mjosparky 4]

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Remember, the packing data card was NOT printed and/or sold by the FAA. They are printed by 3rd parties. Just because there is a blank space does NOT mean that the information is REQUIRED.

Once again Jerry is right.

There are records that a rigger is required to keep and there are records that are "attached to the parachute,".

Attached is what Part 65 has to say on the subject.

Sparky

P.S. Jerry, your item will be in the mail this week.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[RIGGERBEN 0]

If a repair to a harness is not the same as the original design or an excepted standard as approved my the manufacture then, the person doing the repair would be required to get prior approval form the manufacture or the FAA. This would be a written approval if they are smart.

H.A.L.O Tandem Master

[riggerrob 643]

I think that repair is detailed in Poynter's Manual.
Wooden boat builders call it "partnering."
Since the FAA recognizes Poynter's manuals, then it would be a legitimate repair until it creates other problems (i.e. hardware not being able to align itself with the load).
The last time I saw frayed back straps on a Strong Tandem rig, I sent it back to the factory to get new back straps installed.
Yes, I am a Master Rigger and yes I have most of the machines needed for harness repair, but felt that replacing diagonal back straps exceeded my skills.

[riggerrob 643]

Manufacturers routinely record major repairs on TSO tracking records. That is enough to satisfy the FAA.
Whether it is recorded in the rigger's logbook is a secondary question.

For example, when I worked at Rigging Innovations, I did hundreds of harness repairs that were not noted on packing data cards. However, I did spend many hours sifting through original production tracking paperwork so that I could include a copy of the repair sheet (detailing webbing lots and thread lots and which TSO inspector approved it).