Query: Jump-Pilot Bailouts?

[Gary73 10]

It's not unusual for jump pilots to wear bailout rigs, but does anybody know of any cases in the U.S. in which one has actually been used successfully?

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

[vitriol 0]

Charles Lindbergh bailed out successfully 4 times, 2 at night.

I remember seeing a video from a jump plane in an inverted flat spin from wich the pilot bailed out at the last minute, but I don't think it was in the US.

just found it: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3a9_1345519037&comments=1

[peek 21]

Gary73

It's not unusual for jump pilots to wear bailout rigs, but does anybody know of any cases in the U.S. in which one has actually been used successfully?

Here is one:
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1312925#1312925

[fcajump 164]

~1996ish (don't remember exactly when)
Hartwood, VA

(very old recollection of the details, wasn't there, so some may be off)
Premature deployment on the step of a 206 (normal door/step, not cargo door). Canopy went over the tail, the jumper went under. The entire empanage looked liked it was removed by a sawsall. With the jump run at 10,500', the pilot was only able to get out of the tumbling mess by ~3k.
Got himself under a PEP round and landed in a tree.

Injured from the interior of the aircraft (all headliner material had been previously removed) and from the tree landing.

Was able to fly jumpers the next month.

Asside from the question: Jumper with the premature lived as did the jumper on the step, but the jumper still in the aircraft was unable to exit due to the tumbling. Assumed that the impact (landing) was the cause of his fatal injuries.


JW

Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

[davidlayne 5]

I know one.

I don't care how many skydives you've got,
until you stepped into complete darkness at
800' wearing 95 lbs of equipment and 42 lbs
of parachute, son you are still a leg!

[mark 107]

Here's an Australian one: http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24546/aair200101903_001.pdf

Mark

[ChrisD 0]

Interesting observation you are making,...

It might be more informative to ask which pilots wear parachutes and why. Differing aircraft, fly differently, like most Otter pilots don't wear E parachutes, do you know why?

Most Cessna pilots do.

C

But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

[billvon 2,990]

>like most Otter pilots don't wear E parachutes, do you know why?

Harder for an Otter pilot to accidentally fall out the door.

[cnsky54 0]

'92 Canadian Nationals in Chilliwack, BC. Practicing exits all week, doing team video from the Porter that was going to fly us. Day or two before the event, a loose pin released a main on climbout, wrapped the tail, and when the jumper was pulled off and got line stretch, the tail broke free. Plane inverted and spun into the ground with jumpers scrambling out. Pilot got out last, running on the underside of the inverted wing. Some bumps and bruises, but all lived.

The plane landed in a farmer's front yard, missing by literally inches his kids who were playing on an old mattress on the grass. Never seen anything like it. Still have the video and stills somewhere...

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

billvon

>like most Otter pilots don't wear E parachutes, do you know why?

Harder for an Otter pilot to accidentally fall out the door.

And falling out of the door by the pilot seat in an Otter isn't going to have a good outcome.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[diablopilot 2]

ChrisD

Interesting observation you are making,...

It might be more informative to ask which pilots wear parachutes and why. Differing aircraft, fly differently, like most Otter pilots don't wear E parachutes, do you know why?

Most Cessna pilots do.

C

Mostly they are worn if required by regulations. The STC or 337 approval for Cessna jump doors often require the use of PEP. Twin Otters are certified from the factory for door off jump operations with no requirement for a PEP.

Some operators require the use for safety reasons even though the regulations do not require it.

Wingsuit collisions with aircraft have renewed many pilot's interest in bail out rigs.

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

[JohnMitchell 16]

cnsky54

'92 Canadian Nationals in Chilliwack, BC. Practicing exits all week, doing team video from the Porter that was going to fly us.

I knew that pilot pretty well. It was his first jump. He said he climbed out onto the bottom of the wing, looked back in at his new Dave Clark headset, thought about going back in for it, and said to himself "Nope" and jumped. Sad way to lose a plane.

I've known 4 other jump pilots to use their reserves. Three were "reserves into the C182 tail" and one was a mid-air collision.

Yeah, that's a lot, isn't it.

[cnsky54 0]

And then he came back for a real first-jump class. Great guy.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Didn't Dick Rutan bail out of a failed around the world balloon attempt years ago?

Pretty good exit, arch and pull, if I remember the video correctly. Just a bit longer of a delay then recommended on a pilot rig; spanker of an opening and he ended landing in some cactus?

[JohnMitchell 16]

ZigZagMarquis

Just a bit longer of a delay then recommended on a pilot rig; spanker of an opening and he ended landing in some cactus?

Only got your reserve and the jump ship ain't gonna take you up again. Might as well get some good freefall out of it.

[islander 0]

Quote

like most Otter pilots don't wear E parachutes, do you know why?

Because jump from a pilot door would lead into meens machine (a prop). Jump from a cargo door requires a lot of speed and agility to reach it. :)

Blue Sky

[ChennieD 0]

During economic crisis some large corporations went to the government for a bailout few years ago. One of the first things the American people wanted curbed was executive compensation. A business that unsuccessful miserably and wanted TARP help shouldn't be lining already padded pockets.Source of article: why wouldn't you check out our site?

[Boomerdog 0]

??????????????????

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Boomerdog

??????????????????

Spammers trying to get traffic to their sites.

Idiots who don't know which kind of "bailout" we are talking about.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[Boomerdog 0]

Thank you for the explanation, it's been a long day and my one brain cell has been working overtime.

[SoCalJumper 0]

This pilot was happy wearing his.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p6hqMnsLFY

[mjosparky 4]

A JP mentioned smaller jump planes have a STC to operate with door off that comes with a list of special provisions. Things like reduced VNE and other items that must be placarded on the panel. Most of them include the provision that the pilot will wear a rig.
The FAR’s only mentions the use of pilots rig in one section, 91.307.C, and that refers to doing aerobatics while carrying passengers. All other references to parachutes deals with skydiving.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Boogers 0]

ChennieD

During economic crisis some large corporations went to the government for a bailout few years ago. One of the first things the American people wanted curbed was executive compensation. A business that unsuccessful miserably and wanted TARP help shouldn't be lining already padded pockets.Source of article: why wouldn't you check out our site?

He must have searched for the word "bailout" to find a place to attach his advertisement.

We wouldn't check out your site, because we don't like advertising interjected into our conversations.

[riggerrob 643]

SoCalJumper

This pilot was happy wearing his.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p6hqMnsLFY

..................................................................................

That Cessna pilot (in Wisconsin) was wearing a Strong LoPo. He landed (un-injured) in some trees - inside the airport perimeter.
Apparently he had already made two tandem jumps.
Why they showed him how to flare a modern, square canopy, then hung him under an old-school round canopy is a mystery to me???????

[riggerrob 643]

ZigZagMarquis

Didn't Dick Rutan bail out of a failed around the world balloon attempt years ago?

Pretty good exit, arch and pull, if I remember the video correctly. Just a bit longer of a delay then recommended on a pilot rig; spanker of an opening and he ended landing in some cactus?

...................................................................................

Butler Parachute Systems built that back-type PEP - for the balloon flight.

Butler also built a pair of custom, chest-type PEPs for Rutan's successful round-the-world flight in the Voyager. Butler even got a patent for the chest-type PEP that hung a life-raft under the parachute. He then sold a bunch of similar rigs to the United States Coast Guard.