My First Cutaway

[ToTheTop 0]

It was the last load of the day and I was planing on a high pull from 1200ft. I just wanted to enjoy the ride and the view. On the way to altitude we got a call back from the pilot that the uppers were 35 knots. Plus there were storm clouds that were starting to surround the drop zone. I decides on the way to altitude that a high pull wasnt a good idea and let the pilot know. Instead I desided to do a 2 way with another fun jumper who had manifested for a one way belly jump. We exited and had an uneventfull frefall. We turned and tracked at 5000, and i pulled at 3500, right into one of the hardest openings ive ever had. After looking in front of me for other jumpers I looked up to check my canopy. I almost immediatley noticed a tention knot on my right stearing line just above the slider and out of reach. I went to unstow my breaks to try and pump the tention knot out, but as soon as i released my breaks my canopy threw me into a violent spin. I knew immediatley that i would chop it. I grabed my handles and cut away. Because of the spin i was in when i cut away i was oriented with my side facing the ground. I pulled my reserve in the same orientation. My reserve opened immediatley. That big beautifull bright orange canopy! After I released the breaks on my reserve I noticed that it was turning to the left. I had to correct the turn with right riser pressure the rest of the way to the ground. After I landed I found out that the reserve that had just saved my life had been recalled for the same reason I had just experienced. I have a ravon 1 G that was manufactured in 1995. All in all I was glad that i reacted the way I should have. I didnt really have time to think I just reacted. I remembered my training and I go over my emergency procedures in my head on every ride to altitude. what bothers me is my inability to remember some of the details. I droped both of my handles after i cut away. I dont remember doing it and I didint realize i did it until the next day. Also I never checked my altimiter after i deployed. I have no idea at what altitude i cut away. I quess that really doesnt matter because a cut away was the only option in my mind. It just bothers me that i never looked. I was also glad that i decided not to do a hight pull. does anybody know at what part of the packing process whould a tention knot on the stering line be packed. Im thinking it would have to be during the stow, but ive been unable to talk to anybody about it. Im glad i experinced the cutaway and made it back to the ground safetly. Im looking forward to going back up soon.

[efs4ever 3]

And Wisky for yer "saver"

Russell M. Webb D 7014
Attorney at Law
713 385 5676
https://www.tdcparole.com

[sriddy 0]

Congrats on saving your own life!

According to the rigger whose school I pack for, tension knots in the steering lines can be caused by excessive twists in that line. He has me walk the lines for this reason.

Here's do I do it: With the toggles unstowed, pick a side of the canopy to work on and grab the steering lines at the tail of the canopy (There are 4 on each side of the 9-cells I pack) hold them between your fingers in order (outer to inner) Run the lines through your fingers and don't let them cross over each other. these lines cascade into one steering line. Beyond the cascade point, the line is flat, so run that through your fingers not letting it twist. This pushes the twists towards the toggle. Flip the toggle around to remove the twists, set the brakes, and repeat on the other side.

If this is as clear as mud, get a rigger to show you how.

Glad you're still with us!

[ToTheTop 0]

Thanks for the input. my sabre has always gotten pretty extensive twists in the stearing lines. and I have used the tecnique youve mentioned several times. but not recently. Its good to know what could have caused the tention knot. I had no idea that twists in the stearing line could cause it. Ill defenetly start doing it on every pack job now. Thanks for the advice.

[christelsabine 1]

Congrats for beeing that cooool!

Go back into the air asap, that's the best you can do. Keep your EP's in mind like you did. Great.

For me it was at my 50th jump, no fears, just doing what had to be done. Period.

Have a close look on proper packing, anyhow. !!

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[AggieDave 6]

If your control lines have a lot of twists and it went unchecked for a little bit, the lines may have burned that twist in. The friction from the slider coming down the lines heats up the lines on every deployment. The "bumps" from the weave of the line creates more friction and well, you can see where this is going.

Get with your rigger and look at your control lines. It may be time to replace them.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[ToTheTop 0]

The thing is I just had my stearing lines replaced during my last pack job at the suggestion of my rigger. That was about 5 weeks ago and ive made about 12 jumps sinse then. Im still curious as to what else could have caused that tention knot. My stowes were good and tight as far as I could tell. Does anybody know if its some what common to get a tention knot in your stearing line. Because i had never heard of it before my malfunction.

[sriddy 0]

Do you put the toggles back in their keepers after landing?

They can get tweisted up pretty quick if they are just flopping around on the way back to the packing mat.

Probably not your problem, but just a thought.