gman 0 #1 August 13, 2001 I went to Perris last Friday to do some jumps. On the ride up to altitude the pilot said "everybody needs to jump in 2 minutes, we've got a problem". We normally exit at 12.5K but when we got to about 10K the red light came on and the door opened. Everybody exited calmly, including me. I had a safe landing and when I got back to the to the packing area, somebody said "did you notice that the left engine was completely shut down when you jumped?" Uh...no, I was concentrating on my exit. I just experienced my first "Aircraft emergency". "It just had to happen", good thing I had a parachute with me at the time..(ha...ha...ha).Came back Saturday to do more jumps. On the last jump of the day, "it just had to happen". I exited the aircraft and "did my dive". I threw out my PC and waited for the slider to come down. I reach for the slider to collapse it and that's when it all felt "wrong". My canopy started to shake up and down for a second, the shape of the canopy was fine and I don't know why it's happening. All of a sudden I go into a turn, I could feel the leg straps digging into me and it was getting worse. "OH...F***", I pulled red and then silver, yep....my first cutaway. It happened so fast I even amazed myself that I can acutally do it. I looked up and there was my my fully inflated reserve. Looked down and saw my "stuff" floating to the ground. I almost convinced myself to follow my gear to the ground but I decided to go back to the DZ instead. I had a safe landing, I was physically fine but mentally dead, too much exitement for the day. Got some help trying to find my gear, went to the area that I think it may have landed. It was a good thing I didn't follow my gear down. The area consists of trees, dried out vegetation 5 feet high, and some deep ditches. The area is known as "the nursery" because that's what the area used to be. It took 2 hours before one of the staff members found it. It drifted out farther than expected, I was relieved because this is rented gear and I don't have to pay for a replacement. But I do have to pay for the reserve repack and some new handles.The mal was my fault, after we got the canopy back to the shop we looked at the toggles, one of them was stowed improperly, I had a brake line come loose. I was the "idiot" that put it that way...oops!It's not all that bad, I'm still alive and kicking, had a few "firsts", and learned how not to stow a toggle. Will be in the air this weekend again!-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #2 August 13, 2001 Quoteyep....my first cutawayNot to mentioned the 1st reserve ride (the first without the second would not have been the same)....Congrats on handling it! Feels good to know that if the shit hits the fan, you know how to react, dont it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #3 August 13, 2001 I think the little icon on your post should be a . You had a mal, and you took the correct action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Snowflake 0 #4 August 13, 2001 Congrats it must feel good to know you can respond to an emergency correctly. Now let me offer my .02. I had the same thing happen to me last month (no cutaway though). First I look at and grab for my risers on deployment (worry about the slider last). I do this so I can avoid any traffic with a rear riser turn secondly so I have immediate control (i can also flare out closed end cells real quick). The other advantage is I am now looking at my toggles. In my case I opened and was in a left turn, but since I was looking at the risers I saw my right toggle had come unstowed. I simply grabed my toggles and flared problem fixed. I also make damn sure my brakes are stowed when I pack now. I'm sure you will tooJG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DZBone 0 #5 August 13, 2001 QuoteI had the same thing happen to me last month (no cutaway though).I went through a string of these when I started jumping again. I was just being dumb about how I stowed the brakes, and about half the time one of them would half-hitch. I found that a large amount of cursing helped, along with tugging and holding the other riser to avoid turning too much.gman, one thing to try (up high) is maneuvering with rear risers. Unless you are flying something too radical, you should be able to control the canopy with rear risers alone. It takes some practice, but should you lose a brake line down low some day, you'll be glad you spent the time on it.By the way, when do you get your license so we can make some jumps together? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites gman 0 #6 August 13, 2001 Carl,Looks like I'll have to change the way I do things, double check everything during the pack job, during deployment have hands around the rear risers and look at toggles while slider comes down, check to see if canopy is flying correctly, reach up to collapse slider, and then release brakes.I'll get my "A" by the end of this month, other "stuff" needs to be taken care of first.-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wildblue 7 #7 August 13, 2001 QuoteYou had a mal, and you took the correct action.Not to get picky, but that might not have been the correct action. If it was just a toggle coming unstowed, unstow the other one - problem fixed without going to your last chance or costing $40. Now if you're at 1800ft and no time to figure out what's going on, or if it came unstowed and tangled around something else, then I'll agree it was the correct action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites gman 0 #8 August 13, 2001 Wildblue,Yes...you are correct, but I have gotten off AFF status a few weeks ago and still working on my "A". When it happened my instincts said "just do it now". But now I have the luxury of "experience" and some good advice from you and others. I'll just put this incident into the "lessons to be learned" catagory.-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wildblue 7 #9 August 13, 2001 Glad you learned from it. It is good you did something and didn't just have a brain lock and spin yourself into the ground! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skymama 37 #10 August 14, 2001 I think you did just fine. You made a decision while under pressure and stuck with it. Someone with more experience than you might have done something differently, but that's no big deal. There's a huge learning curve in this sport. And, any skydive you walk away from is a good skydive. Andrea"Up high, I feel like I'm alive for the very first time" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #11 August 14, 2001 Dont feel too bad. I saw a guy cut away a canopy at 2700 ft cause his slider didnt immediately come down. He had about 25 jumps at the time. He was a CID agent though.....I'm sure that had something to do with it...LOL"I used to know a girl...She had two pirced nipples and a black tattoo"-EverclearClay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Albatross 0 #12 August 14, 2001 gman,Don't ever doubt the decision that you made. Maybe I would have handled it differently but you were not comfortable with the way that the canopy was flying and were not sure why. You made a decision and landed safely. You made the right decision. Everyone has at least one story about a cutaway that wasn't abosolutely necessary. I know of a student who cutaway becasue the slider seemed too close. Never doubt the decision that you made the other day. You made the right one for you at this time. Maybe in 25 jumps you won't but right then you made the right choice.Flare Damn it!!!!!Albatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
Snowflake 0 #4 August 13, 2001 Congrats it must feel good to know you can respond to an emergency correctly. Now let me offer my .02. I had the same thing happen to me last month (no cutaway though). First I look at and grab for my risers on deployment (worry about the slider last). I do this so I can avoid any traffic with a rear riser turn secondly so I have immediate control (i can also flare out closed end cells real quick). The other advantage is I am now looking at my toggles. In my case I opened and was in a left turn, but since I was looking at the risers I saw my right toggle had come unstowed. I simply grabed my toggles and flared problem fixed. I also make damn sure my brakes are stowed when I pack now. I'm sure you will tooJG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZBone 0 #5 August 13, 2001 QuoteI had the same thing happen to me last month (no cutaway though).I went through a string of these when I started jumping again. I was just being dumb about how I stowed the brakes, and about half the time one of them would half-hitch. I found that a large amount of cursing helped, along with tugging and holding the other riser to avoid turning too much.gman, one thing to try (up high) is maneuvering with rear risers. Unless you are flying something too radical, you should be able to control the canopy with rear risers alone. It takes some practice, but should you lose a brake line down low some day, you'll be glad you spent the time on it.By the way, when do you get your license so we can make some jumps together? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites gman 0 #6 August 13, 2001 Carl,Looks like I'll have to change the way I do things, double check everything during the pack job, during deployment have hands around the rear risers and look at toggles while slider comes down, check to see if canopy is flying correctly, reach up to collapse slider, and then release brakes.I'll get my "A" by the end of this month, other "stuff" needs to be taken care of first.-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wildblue 7 #7 August 13, 2001 QuoteYou had a mal, and you took the correct action.Not to get picky, but that might not have been the correct action. If it was just a toggle coming unstowed, unstow the other one - problem fixed without going to your last chance or costing $40. Now if you're at 1800ft and no time to figure out what's going on, or if it came unstowed and tangled around something else, then I'll agree it was the correct action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites gman 0 #8 August 13, 2001 Wildblue,Yes...you are correct, but I have gotten off AFF status a few weeks ago and still working on my "A". When it happened my instincts said "just do it now". But now I have the luxury of "experience" and some good advice from you and others. I'll just put this incident into the "lessons to be learned" catagory.-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wildblue 7 #9 August 13, 2001 Glad you learned from it. It is good you did something and didn't just have a brain lock and spin yourself into the ground! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skymama 37 #10 August 14, 2001 I think you did just fine. You made a decision while under pressure and stuck with it. Someone with more experience than you might have done something differently, but that's no big deal. There's a huge learning curve in this sport. And, any skydive you walk away from is a good skydive. Andrea"Up high, I feel like I'm alive for the very first time" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #11 August 14, 2001 Dont feel too bad. I saw a guy cut away a canopy at 2700 ft cause his slider didnt immediately come down. He had about 25 jumps at the time. He was a CID agent though.....I'm sure that had something to do with it...LOL"I used to know a girl...She had two pirced nipples and a black tattoo"-EverclearClay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Albatross 0 #12 August 14, 2001 gman,Don't ever doubt the decision that you made. Maybe I would have handled it differently but you were not comfortable with the way that the canopy was flying and were not sure why. You made a decision and landed safely. You made the right decision. Everyone has at least one story about a cutaway that wasn't abosolutely necessary. I know of a student who cutaway becasue the slider seemed too close. Never doubt the decision that you made the other day. You made the right one for you at this time. Maybe in 25 jumps you won't but right then you made the right choice.Flare Damn it!!!!!Albatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
gman 0 #6 August 13, 2001 Carl,Looks like I'll have to change the way I do things, double check everything during the pack job, during deployment have hands around the rear risers and look at toggles while slider comes down, check to see if canopy is flying correctly, reach up to collapse slider, and then release brakes.I'll get my "A" by the end of this month, other "stuff" needs to be taken care of first.-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #7 August 13, 2001 QuoteYou had a mal, and you took the correct action.Not to get picky, but that might not have been the correct action. If it was just a toggle coming unstowed, unstow the other one - problem fixed without going to your last chance or costing $40. Now if you're at 1800ft and no time to figure out what's going on, or if it came unstowed and tangled around something else, then I'll agree it was the correct action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gman 0 #8 August 13, 2001 Wildblue,Yes...you are correct, but I have gotten off AFF status a few weeks ago and still working on my "A". When it happened my instincts said "just do it now". But now I have the luxury of "experience" and some good advice from you and others. I'll just put this incident into the "lessons to be learned" catagory.-G.L.- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #9 August 13, 2001 Glad you learned from it. It is good you did something and didn't just have a brain lock and spin yourself into the ground! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #10 August 14, 2001 I think you did just fine. You made a decision while under pressure and stuck with it. Someone with more experience than you might have done something differently, but that's no big deal. There's a huge learning curve in this sport. And, any skydive you walk away from is a good skydive. Andrea"Up high, I feel like I'm alive for the very first time" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #11 August 14, 2001 Dont feel too bad. I saw a guy cut away a canopy at 2700 ft cause his slider didnt immediately come down. He had about 25 jumps at the time. He was a CID agent though.....I'm sure that had something to do with it...LOL"I used to know a girl...She had two pirced nipples and a black tattoo"-EverclearClay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albatross 0 #12 August 14, 2001 gman,Don't ever doubt the decision that you made. Maybe I would have handled it differently but you were not comfortable with the way that the canopy was flying and were not sure why. You made a decision and landed safely. You made the right decision. Everyone has at least one story about a cutaway that wasn't abosolutely necessary. I know of a student who cutaway becasue the slider seemed too close. Never doubt the decision that you made the other day. You made the right one for you at this time. Maybe in 25 jumps you won't but right then you made the right choice.Flare Damn it!!!!!Albatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
