CornishChris 5 #1 April 18, 2004 I have probably done around 60 jumps on my Icarus beta 170 and have never had a pilot chute hesitation and yesterday I had two. Both times I was surprised by the delay in my 'normal' opening times - which as you know is pretty much set in your mind so any delay becomes obvious without counting. Whilst this is not a huge concern I was interested to know why this has started happening. My PC is cocked. I am packing the same way but twice yesterday I chucked out and nothing happend until I looked over my shoulder to see what was going on. Once I could let go, but for it to happen twice in one day was a bit wierd. Thoughts on this? CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 April 18, 2004 It could have been a weak throw, tossing it back into your burble and/or your PC could be out of trim, thus not fully inflating. How old is the PC? If you haven't replaced it, then it probably came with the rig, if its a used rig.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CornishChris 5 #3 April 18, 2004 I don't think it is a weak throw as it is the same as I have always done and it has never happened before. Also I give it a good chuck out. The PC is a few years old but in good condition. If it happens again next weekend i may get my rigger to have a look at it... CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 April 18, 2004 QuoteIf it happens again next weekend i may get my rigger to have a look at it... Why not have one look at it now, before it becomes a possible cutaway.EDIT: Forgot to ask if it is the PC that came with the container or if it is one that was bought later. If it is an "aftermarket" PC, then it may actually be smaller then recommended by the container manufacture, who sets the standard on what should be used with their container to properly extract your canopy.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #5 April 18, 2004 Check this out: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=132976;search_string=pilot%20chute;#132976 Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #6 April 19, 2004 I notice you jump a Talon2. Here is something to look at as a possibility. The bottom stiffener flap on the Talon is wide. If by chance the excess bridle is pushed up under the side flap and over the corner of the bottom flap, it can cause a pilot chute in tow. If it clears quickly it feels like a hesitation. If it lasts a while it's just scary. Pack up your rig, Be certain the PC is cocked and then stow the Pilot chute and bridle. Reach up under the side flap to see if the bridle is accidently being placed over the corner. That may not be it but it's a good thing to take note of.My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CornishChris 5 #7 April 19, 2004 Good point Dave. My answer would be "because it has never happened before..." but quite frankly that is bollocks. i will have a rigger look at it. I could do without blemishing my cutaway record. blue ones. CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grega 0 #8 April 19, 2004 Hmm what was the last time that you jumped before those two jumps... ? Something to also consider is that you have fairly low number of jumps, which means that with every jump you sense more things. something that you might thought were two seconds before, could now seem like 4 seconds. especially if you didn't jump for a while. I'm not saying that's the case, it's just an option"George just lucky i guess!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gus 1 #9 April 19, 2004 Chris, I had the same thing. Had a series of very weird/scary delays which almost always resulted in twists when it eventually opened. I had 3 riggers look at it, 1 extended the kill line, 1 extended the tapes that run from the end of the bridle to the apex and another extended those tapes further - and I still got the occasional odd delay. So I binned it! For £40 (what it cost to get a new pc) I got peace of mind and better openings - well worth it.. GusOutpatientsOnline.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #10 April 19, 2004 One of the big causes is the pilot chute bridle. After a lot of use, the kill line actually shrinks. You give it a good toss, but it just bounces around on your back. If that happens, dip a shoulder and let the air pull it off your back. However, be prepared for a slam opening and line twists. There is a little extra material in a kill line and your rigger can lengthen it one time. That will solve the problem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auryn 0 #11 April 20, 2004 QuoteOne of the big causes is the pilot chute bridle. After a lot of use, the kill line actually shrinks. you can check this yourself really easily. take the pc, cock it fully, and hang it upside down. if the kill line is taught inside the pc, it has shrunk and may need to be lengthened. Blue Ones ! Bryan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #12 April 20, 2004 QuoteI notice you jump a Talon2. Here is something to look at as a possibility. The bottom stiffener flap on the Talon is wide. If by chance the excess bridle is pushed up under the side flap and over the corner of the bottom flap, it can cause a pilot chute in tow. Hookitt is right on with this assesment. I have seen this problem on at least 5 different Talon 2's. The problem lies in stuffing the bridle to tightly under that flap on the way to the BOC pocket. Then there is insuficient slack to "jerk" it out from underneath and around the corner of the flap. I believe RI has a fix for it.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoShitThereIWas 0 #13 April 20, 2004 I'm not sure if this is the same thing you all are talking about, but a similar situation happened to a friend of mine who had a Vector 3. The bridle of his PC got "pinched" under his #2 closing flap which ended up causing him to have a PC in tow. I had some experience with hesitations using my old PC. When I had it inspected by my rigger at the time, he told me the kill line on it was faulty so I sent it back to the manufacturer and got a brand new one. On one jump under the bad PC I had started my EPs. Peeled and pulled the pillow and sometime during that process, POOF! The cables had not cleared the 3 rings and the canopy had activated and fully inflated. Not a very good feeling when you're dangling under your main by an inch or two of cable . I was not that experienced when this happened and was wondering, the canopy is open now ... should I push the cables back in all the way and re-situate the cutaway pillow or should I finish the cutaway and pull the reserve since I already started it? I opted to keep the main and it landed me safely Whew!Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #14 April 20, 2004 QuoteCheck this out: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=132976;search_string=pilot%20chute;#132976 Dave If ya'll haven't read this, I'd strongly recommend it. Straight from the man himself, Bill Booth. Thanks Pilotdave for digging up the link. Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CornishChris 5 #15 April 22, 2004 QuoteHmm what was the last time that you jumped before those two jumps... ? I did five jumps on that day and had hesitation on 3 and 5. Before that I jumped the previous Sunday and Monday. I will look at the 2nd flap issue as I do recall stowing more bridle than usual on one pack job that day, although not sure which one, and I will have a rigger look at the rig oer the weekend. Thanks for all of the useful input. CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikeat10500 12 #16 April 22, 2004 QuoteI am packing the same way but twice yesterday I chucked out and nothing happend until I looked over my shoulder to see what was going on. Thoughts on this? The pilot chute was in your burble/on your back... Thats why we teach check-000. It works!(breaks the burble)...how else can you explain initiating deployment by checking over your shoulder. When it happened to me at ~200 jumps I pulled at 2000' normally. I pulled...nothing happened...and nothing happened(my pilot chute was getting old but this was stupid)...so I looked...it was between my shoulder blades flapping around....wooooosh...it opened! Now I try to place the pilot chute as far away from my body as possible...And I will always look(check-000) before going to handles! First learned first remembered.----------------------------------- Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1 Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
