VERY nasty...:-(

[MarkF 0]

Got some very sacry news about a premature opening. The jumper transitiond into a sit and the pilot chute deployed between his legs, all at about 7500. The opening was INCREDIBLY violent resulting in a fractured pelvis, broken rib(s), both lungs punctured and partially collapsed, shattered vertebrae in the neck (more than 1). He had loss of feeling and movement in his limbs but this has substantially recovered. It was Voodoo rig at Cesnock (Ithink). Some other Aussi here may know who it is but I don't. Whoever, I'm sure that we all wish him a sppedy and complete recovery.
I guess the lesson here is gear checks. Is EVERYTHING that should be tucked up nice and tight and out of the way ?
Ooroo
Mark F...

[skyhawk 2]

ouch i wish him a speedy recovery

[Aviatrr 0]

Very unfortunate news. I wish him a full, speedy recovery.
Do you happen to know what type of deployment method he was utilizing? Throw out or Pull out? BOC, ROL? Hackey sack or pud?
I've seen people try to freefly before with ROL throw out with a pud on it. That's the most likely setup to have a premature deployment during sitflying. I don't think the Voodoo is offered with ROL, but of course could be converted by a rigger.
Mike

[SkySlut 0]

The same thing happened to a buddy of mine. He was wearing a Javelin, BOC, & Sitflying. The P/C deployed right between his legs and flipped him right over. It wasnt as serious as your story, but he was banged up real bad...
"I'll jump anything!"

[MarkM 0]

Saw this once with my instructor jumping a borrowed rig. The BOC pouch was a little loose and when he went to track away from a student he deployed.
Got in a nasty wrap with a student, but both made it out okay.

[Deleted 0]

I have had a premature deployment and it actually opened beautifully (8K) I was in a stand up driving forward. Not saying its the total cause but if the jumper was in a good sitfly (everything in 90 degree angles) the pilot chute could not have gone through his legs. I know alot of people start out in a kinda lazy sit (like in a recylner) Either way I hope he heals quickley

[Geoff 0]

A biggish way - about 10 way I think. This guys comes in way too fast, docks hard and flips over forwards into the formation. As he goes, his hacky catches on someone's arm, and his PC pops out. Flaps around on the back of one guy's head for a second, and then deploys. The jumper is on his back, almost head-down, watching his main deploying above him, past his feet. Main deploys perfectly, and lifts him past the other jumpers. Miraculously, nobody is hurt.
Got it on video - I'll try to digitize it and post it somewhere eventually. It's scary shit. Makes your pulse race just watching it.
And on a lighter note - Skydiving is better than sex because....
A premature deployment gives you a longer ride.
Oh well. the old ones are the best.
Geoff

[gravityman 0]

the rig in question had a BOC deployment.not sure if it was a hackey, though.
the voodoo rig is supposedly freefly friendly.
there is currently an investigation by the Australian Parachute Federation, i believe.
no doubt, gear checks are not just for students.
get well soon Affy.

[mountainman 0]

Quote

I'll try to digitize it and post it somewhere eventually

I would love to see this! Let me know if you get it somewhere!!
blues
NEW AND IMPROVED!!!
http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

[Grogs 0]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about that. I hope the jumper heals up quickly. From what I've seen, the Voodoo with a BOC is a very tight rig with minimum bridle exposure and a tight main flap, so it makes a good freefly rig. I'm certainly saddened to hear about this.

[Zennie 0]

Just out of curiosity, could a BOC pouch with tighter spandex help solve this problem? My new rig is looser than the spandex on the rental rigs I have.
That of course leads to the question of how tight is tight enough. You don't want it so tight that you have hard pulls, but you don't want it so loose that your hacky can get pulled out by the relative wind either.
------------
Blue Skies!
Zennie

[Greg 0]

Quote

My new rig is looser
than the spandex on the rental rigs I have.

When I got my new (used) rig, the boc was a little loose and I had it replaced before I jumped it. IMHO, better safe than sorry!!
Greg A-37958

[Hellian 0]

Sounds bad, i hope he gets well soon!
Ed

[Cacophony 0]

Thats weird that that happened on a Voodoo. They are supposed to be one of the safest rigs out there. My guess is that it wasn't because of the rig, it probably had something to do with a loose PC or possibly he bumped it in the plane or on exit? Good thing I have myself a Relative Workshop rig instead of one of those crap Rigging Innovations, hehe. J/K I had a Talon for a year and I loved it. I guess this story goes to show you that no rig is completely fool proof.
Safe landings,
Alex D-23912

[lazerq3 0]

I have a question. On our student gear the ripcord handle has a piece of velcro wrapped it on one end and then there is a piece sewn on the rig. So when the RC is in place it velcros to the rig. Nothing tight but enough to keep it from moving around during free fall. So would it be possible to maybe sew a piece of velcro to the hackey and a piece to your rig as a little added protection to keep it still and in place?
jason

[Deleted 0]

Quote

could a BOC pouch with tighter spandex help solve this problem

my guess would be that a leading cause of premature deployments would be having a boc pouch with a mouth that is too loose, so IMHO having a tighter mouth WOULD reduce the risk of a p/d.
Frank

[michael 9]

The rig wasnt a Voodoo. He was jumping an older (94-ish) NJ Javelin which was modified to be freefly-friendly after having a premmie last year.

[cdunham 0]

Yup, another reason to jump a pull-out.
Add that to:
- you are sure the pin is pulled
- shorter bridle (less chance of horseshoe)
- cleanly tucked-away handle