What would you do?

[phoenixlpr 0]

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All in all, we figure it's a combination of a few things.

#1 - PC is a bit small
#2 - Bridle is a bit short
#3 - I am very light
#4 - Canopy is tight in the bag

I think a 27" PC is big enough for your 135 sqft canopy.

I use 36" F111 PC with ~180cm bridle for my Pilot150 and 24" ZP PC with normal bridle (~2,5m) for my Cobalt135. I had no hesitation issues.

[kkeenan 14]

The deployment bag should be matched to the container (the manufacturer makes bags that are sized for each container size). Sometimes, when things get replaced, a container gets a bag that may work OK, but not be the right bag. Then, if a larger canopy pushes that bag to its limit, the bag becomes too tight in the pack tray. Most rigs are designed so that the bag is "gripped" by the lower corners, causing the bag to leave the pack tray with the grommet facing upward, rather than just floating out when the flaps open. It sounds like yours is gripping the bottom too tightly.

Kevin

_____________________________________
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?

[Chris-Ottawa 0]

Thanks for the reply...

You are correct that the pilot chute should be big enough, we just think it's a combination of everything that's making it delay.

As for the container, OJK, the Bag, OJK. And the canopy is a 135 so it should be fine. The reserve is a 143, so it's all within specs. Maybe I should call sunpath and see what they recommend. What we all found odd is that the container apparently has 55 jumps on it before I got it, but the pilot chute has been replaced??? It's a Jim Cazer and it's also very new, but still.

...and Mark, I was glad to drive to Gan on the weekend, I had a blast. for my first Otter jump!

"When once you have tasted flight..."

[L.O. 0]

I have had PCITs, I am jumping mostly from Cessnas and do a lot of HPs. I have never not been able to pull the pin. I have done it at least a dozen times over the years. If I couldn't, I would fly it to 2 then pull reserve.

Bag lock. I had the most fun reserve ride ever with a bag lock. I was solo head down at a $10 boogie in Chicago. A big flat skydive got out before me. They had a camera man. after exit (about 10 secs) I felt something against my foot. It was one of my toggles. I went flat and deployed at about 10G. I had a baglock about 4/5 ft off my back. I found the belly jump, tracked over then. The camera person pulled in place about 4ish. I tracked about 100ft in front of him. I sat up, screamed (to get his attention), and as I went through his level right in front of him cut-away and pulled reserve. He got it on video.

I had a slider hang up once I flew the canopy trying to free-up the slider but couldn't. I flew the canopt to 2000 trying to judge the perfect sport. I cut at 2G. My stuff landed about 100ft from the peas.

I've had two of these and both were low so I just pulled reserve immediately.

HPDBs, I hate those guys.
AFB, charter member.

[peek 21]

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1. First, compare the pull force in a car of 2 pilot chutes of equal size. Lots of pull.

2. So I asked someone to film me exiting from the plane

Excellent research Chris!

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All in all, we figure it's a combination of a few things.

And excellent conclusion!

Sometimes problems are complex and cannot be solved with simple solutions or "conventional wisdom" that is unfortunately passed from skydiver to skydiver without scientific background.

You are figuring this out the correct way.

[mdrejhon 8]

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So the combination of all these things, we figure is causing the tow. Now that we know what causes it, we can do a few things. I was going to get a whole new PC/bridle, but I don't think it's necessary. Next weekend I'm going to see what happens on a 5 Sec delay. I think it will work fine, as it works fine on terminal jumps. My resolution....don't do clear and pulls, or expect to tow.

I may end up getting a bigger PC, or simple extending my bridle a bit.

Thanks for the advice from this thread!

I actually made my post before I read your last post, so it seems like they beat me to making the suggestion.

Now I know you got video, and your dropzone agrees it is unusual..

If they are already suggesting to do this, both a longer bridle and larger one will give you more peace of mine during a H+P. (And you never know, you might still get a hesitation during terminal freefall -- especially if the PC was tossed improperly in an emergency rush and it goes into your burble because of small size and short bridle)

Keep working with your dropzone and don't go on any low-altitude H+P's for now. Now that your dropzone seems to confirm the problem, I'd replace the PC if I were you for the peace of mind - a complex skydive such as a bigway may require you pull below 2500, or maybe problems cause you to pull a little lower than expected (i.e. people freefalling above you, or some other unexpected event), and when you end up having to pull a little lower for a legitimate reason, the PC suddenly decides to hesitate at that moment...

Granted, you probably won't encounter such situations for a while, just don't propose a marriage to this PC just yet though.

[AFFI 0]

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Excellent research Chris!

And excellent conclusion!

Sometimes problems are complex and cannot be solved with simple solutions or "conventional wisdom" that is unfortunately passed from skydiver to skydiver without scientific background.

You are figuring this out the correct way.

I agree with this statement wholeheartedly!

Good job at finding out the probable causes Chris.

I am eager to read your next update…

Mykel AFF-I10
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

[Chris-Ottawa 0]

Update:

5 second delay x2 ....No issues.

So, conclusion, until I hear back from Sunpath (been over a week), I am not doing any clear and pulls.

I'll let you know what Sunpath recommends.

Chris

"When once you have tasted flight..."

[Deesh 0]

hey guys,
im new to this whole experience and am hoping to do my first jump soon. but i am trying to collect some stats 1st. does any1 know the survival or failure rate? or any kind of facts/stats will b great!
-Deesh

[Chris-Ottawa 0]

Hey Deesh,

You may want to start a new thread for that, but you could also do a search. This gets discussed fairly often in these forums but, if you want a simple answer, read below.

I wouldn't use the phrase "survival" or "failure" in a sport like this. Obviously we wouldn't do it if it was unsafe, but I'm not saying it's a safe sport. If you want a safe sport, bowling and badminton are safe sports. You are the person who controls safety in this sport, and sometimes even you can't control it. That's life and you need to understand that certain things are out of your control. If you want to know if you are likely to die in this sport, absolutely not, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. It's not likely, but still can, and does happen. I've had a couple scary moments, assuming you read this thread, you would know, but you just have to stay calm, assess the situation and do what's best.

I suggest you head out to a local DZ, talk to some of the people out there, watch them jump and land etc. Then, the rest is handled throughout your training.

P.S. - If you want advice on these forums, everyone likes to see a full profile, just so they know where you are roughly, what your experience is etc... Trust me on this one, fill it out as much as you can.

Hope to see you in the skies

Chris

"When once you have tasted flight..."