LINE ATTACHMENT TAPE

[RIGGER 0]

Hi

During inspection of a main canopy I found a well torn line attachment tape which holds an upper steering line but it could be at any line attachment.

A report was sent to the Mfg.

Tip: inspect the main canopy as well & look at the attachment tapes when packing the main - easy to see.

Please look at the photo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

[JohnRich 4]

What caused that? Was it not cut with a hot knife, allowing the end, and eventually the edge also, to unravel?

[RIGGER 0]

Hi

The tapes were cut with a hot knife - you can see it.

Does the hot knife cut work was made as should ? hard to tell.

I wonder what will be the Mfg. answer on that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

[matthewcline 0]

Quote

Hi

During inspection of a main canopy I found a well torn line attachment tape which holds an upper steering line but it could be at any line attachment.

A report was sent to the Mfg.

Tip: inspect the main canopy as well & look at the attachment tapes when packing the main - easy to see.

Please look at the photo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Your advice is good all around. Looks like the "unfinished" and none load bearing end of the tape as well.

I would postulate that it was a 99% complete hot knife cut that began to fray, and the packer had no vested interest in the repair or used the "good for one more Jump" theory.

Matt

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

[diablopilot 2]

What's the age, and number of jumps on the main?

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

[floormonkey 0]

Recently saw a canopy where multiple line attachment points were like that-they were not hot knifed from the factory. Wear started to show at 25 jumps.

[masterrigger1 2]

Quote

The tapes were cut with a hot knife - you can see it.

Does the hot knife cut work was made as should ? hard to tell.

I wonder what will be the Mfg. answer on that.

Shlomo,
Most manufacturers today use a strip cutter to cut these items,not just a hot knife.

The strip cutter can be either a cold cut, a hot cut, or a hot and cold cut type (does both), it just depends on the machine they have.

What probably is the case it that the machine was run before the element came up to the correct temperature at the begining of the shift or the temperture was just set at too low of a temperture setting. Lastly, the speed may be too fast.

Good catch BTW!

Also, what canopy was this on so that we may keep a sharp eye out for possibly some others with the same problem?

Cheers,
MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[RIGGER 0]

The canopy is 1 year old - less than a year in the air.

I do not think the no. of jumps is a point - it is a basic issue.

I'll try to find out the no.

Cheers

[lekstrom10k 0]

It sure only cosmetic to me .Below the bar tack and the actual Larks head itself seem fine . The frat isnt on the working side BFD
just re hot knife it

[RIGGER 0]

Thanks.

No, it is NOT cosmetic at all - it is all the way down to the bartack - please look again.

Cheers

[RIGGER 0]

Thanks.

USA made ?

Cheers

[RIGGER 0]

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

I know the way some mfg. are cutting the tapes - you are right with your saying about the cold / hot process slow / fast motion but it could be the quality of the tape as well.

I did not put the canopy name / Mfg. name for a reason but it is made in the USA.

I reported the Mfg. on that & I'll wait for an answer.

It is not the first time I see that on same mfg. main canpoies -it was reported before but never got a real answer.

When I saw it again on that specific canopy now at the tail area & before on a loaded main line I want skydivers to be aware of that issue, it could be on any main / reserve canpoy but I found these on a specific Mfg. main canopies.

The main canopy should be inspected regardless to brand or Mfg.

Cheers

[RIGGER 0]

So far nothing from the Mfg.

Cheers

[Sincy78 1]

This may be caused by the selection of the type of tape. These tapes can be manufactured using 2 different methods. Class 1 is a shuttle loom method and Class 1A is a needle loom method. Needle loom manufactured tapes have a lock stitch at the edge of the tape. If the textile "end" that forms the lock stitch breaks, it can cause the tape to un-ravel across the fill direction IE side-to-side. Class 1A tapes are normally cheaper than Class 1, but I prefer to use class 1 on any safety critical textile elements. You can usually tell class 1A weaves by feeling the edges of the tape. One side is usually slightly thicker than the other and feels a little "lumpy" on the thicker side. It is very subtle though, especially on lighter weight tapes. I have attached a picture of how the "catch cord" on class 1A tape works. Hope this is useful.

[masterrig 1]

Quote

The canopy is 1 year old - less than a year in the air.

I do not think the no. of jumps is a point - it is a basic issue.

I'll try to find out the no.

Cheers

I have seen these tapes folded in and bar-tacked so that no tape end is showing. When replacing line attachment tapes, that's the way I've done it.


Chuck

[Sincy78 1]

Looking at the fraying speaks volumes. The tape is fraying across the fill. It looks to me that the manufacturer has used class 1A or class 2 shuttleless tape for this attachment. The bartack has trapped the catch cord, that's why it hasn't frayed beyond this point. Folding the end of the tape under will NOT help. It's not fraying along the warp, it's fraying across the fill. I don't usually get involved in these discussions, but I feel this is important, especially as there seems to be a number of occurences. Masterrig, contact the manufacturer and find out what class of tape they are using and encourage them to use class 1 and absorb the extra cost. This hasn't been the first time I've come across this type of problem. It looks to me that he integrity of the attachment is relying on the friction between the bartack and the end of the catch cord that is still in the homogenous section of the tape. If I have mis-diagnosed the problem, I apologize, but I would rather speak up than see someone subjected to a potentially dangerous situation, because I didn't want to look stupid.

[RIGGER 0]

Thanks for that.

The tape CLASS came into my mind as well from first time I saw that 2 years ago.

I had an answer from the Mfg. - the tape is from BRM but I'm looking into the tape class too.

According to past reports the Mfg. said he is using the same tape as others.

I saw that issue on the specific mfg. line tabs only - could be the hot knife machine issue / quality / temp. / motion or the tape quality.

Skydivers must look at that point regardless the mfg. / brand.

I'm waiting for more info. from the mfg.

Cheers

[masterrig 1]

I went back and 'really' looked at the picture that Rigger posted. You're right! In this case, folding the tape over would not help. Thanks for pointing this out.


Chuck

[RIGGER 0]

Thanks.

There is no need for that process if the hot knife cutting process is well done & the tape is Class 1 Shuttle Loom weaving.

I never saw that on different canopies only on these frm the specific mfg.

Cheers

[Sincy78 1]

Bally Ribbon Mills makes shuttle loom and shuttleless. So the canopy manufacturer needs to see which they ordered. Glad to be of some help here.

[masterrig 1]

Hello RIGGER!

I've seen where over time and use, the hot-knifed edge would show signs of fraying. In my little mind, I felt that folding the tape over would solve the problem. It takes a bit more time and I never found a problem with it. As I mentioned, I had seen it done on parachutes.
Thanks for bringing this subject to everyone's attention.


Chuck

[RIGGER 0]

Thanks - we know that - BRM makes both classes.

Cheers

[jcbfly 1]

Happy New Year Shlomo!

Can you give an update on these line attachment tapes?

Thanks!