Pilot chute in tow mal

[Scottyb 0]

Had my first malfunction today and am thankful for all the training & EP practice. Jumping with a friend today had a great RW jump our first jump. I usually let the packers pack my rig because it's a newer ZP and my bag is a little small and it's a real challenge to get into the bag, but today we had plenty of time between loads so he said he would help me with packing. My friend watched & checked my pack job but I wasn't happy with the way the bridle looked so we opened the container & fixed the bridle and closed the container. Neither of us noticed the side flap closed over top of the bridle.

Jump was uneventful, broke @ 5k and tracked pulled at 3,800 and nothing! looked back and saw the pilot chute in tow reached for the bridle once and pulled silver. Landed out but in a good spot. Jumper on the next load also landed out and found the freebag.

So needless to say I could have avoided this reserve ride by checking the bridle routing and I will do so before every jump from now on. I will also get a bottle to my rigger and I thank all of the instructors that drilled those emergency procedures in my head so I didn't panic when the time came to use them.

[firstime 0]

WHOA, the same thing happened to one of the jumpers at our dz a couple of weeks ago........
Mis routed bridle... and this guy is real anal about
safety. Thank God his reserve ride went well.

Don't ever think you are not capable of a brain fart

[AFFI 0]

For dealing with this total malfunction correctly utilizing a preplanned course of action - BRAVO! Outstanding and all the positive stuff… A group of very experienced instructors and me (I was the least experienced in the group) today were talking about this very same subject and the preplanned course of action all of us teach and believe in is to teach the PC in tow as a total malfunction. A subject of debate indeed.

For packing yourself a very dangerous and avoidable situation?
I am certain you have picked your own expletives.

Ummmm, curious how much packing experience your friend has?

Glad you survived and hopefully will never repeat this mistake.

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

[Macaw 0]

Glad to hear that you managed it well!
Good job! Well done!
Thanks for the post - a good reminder for everyone.

________________________________________
Life is a series of wonderful opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.

[billbooth 10]

Never open and re-close a container with the hand deployed pilot chute still in the pouch. This is the most common way to pack a pilot chute in tow. Always trace your bridle from the main closing pin to the pilot chute pouch with a finger to make sure it passed under nothing on the way to the pouch, before you put on your gear. Certainly your life is worth this 5 second check.

[nicknitro71 0]

Good thing is was not a BASE jump...

Memento Audere Semper

903

[Salsa_John 0]

Quote

closed the container. Neither of us noticed the side flap closed over top of the bridle.

When I was learning to pack I practiced at home. I was not sure I had done it correctly. I asked an instructor. He said to open it up. I pulled my hackey and lifted up the container.... PC in tow for sure!

"You did what?!?!"

MUFF #3722, TDSM #72, Orfun #26, Nachos Rodriguez

[Scottyb 0]

That was first thing my Rigger asked. did you open the container without removing the pilot chute from the pouch? of course the answer was yes, he showed me how easy it is to "lock" the bridle in the container. I will not be making that mistake again. I'm just glad I'm here and able to learn from my mistake.

Scott