PhillyKev 0 #1 June 16, 2003 Some clouds rolled in toward the end of the day yesterday, so the 6 way FF jump I was on got scrapped, but a few of us decided to stay in the boarding area and do a hop-n-pop. After landing I'm walking back to the hanger w/ a recent AFF grad who was saying that was only his second hop-n-pop, the first being his low solo. He loved it, liked having so much canopy time and was digging the sub term opening. So....they call out another h-n-p load and he and I and others decide to get on that one too. We all load up the plane and pilot says he's waiting for one more. Here he comes running to the plane with his helmet in hand, leg straps loose and chest strap undone. We take off, he's adjusting his gear during take off, seat belt light goes off, and he stands up to finish hooking up his gear. I say, "did you connect your chest strap?" He says, "Yeah, I got it". Then I reach over, give it a little yank and as it pulls free I say, "you're dead". That woke him up. He wrapped the strap around the buckle and under the elastic keeper, but didn't put it through. Scary shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #2 June 16, 2003 Holy shit!!! __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #3 June 16, 2003 This is seriously a nightmare of mine, you would be so fucked if your chest strap broke/was misrouted. I tug on mine everytime as part of my equipment check. Scary! --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #4 June 16, 2003 Good catch. Just a reminder to all to check yours and your buddies chest straps when giving each other gear checks. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerry81 10 #5 June 16, 2003 I think surviving an opening with an undone chest strap is quite possible, especially if you notice it's undone before you pull. Still, scary to think someone can make a mistake like that. Hopefully, your "You're dead!" comment drilled the point home for this guy. Even though it might have been an overstatement, it was completely appropriate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #6 June 16, 2003 Yeah...I know, especially on a hop n pop...but even so...I don't want to test that theory, do you? In all reality, I think I was more scared than he was. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rigging65 0 #7 June 16, 2003 This is a very clear lesson as to why you simply shouldn't let anyone on the airplane that isn't fully geared up and ready to exit (in an emergency). No one gets on our planes without their chest strap properly routed and their leg straps at least tight enough that they're not flopping around. Helmets and seat belts on from before take-off 'till 1500'!! Never slack on those rules and you'll be much less likely to be attending a wake for someone who "knew better"... "...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you long to return..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clownburner 0 #8 June 16, 2003 At my DZ they do the same thing; some people don't have their leg straps fully tightened but _nobody_ gets on without all the straps being closed... And personally I wouldn't chance my leg straps being loose if there was a 2000' emergency exit.7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #9 June 16, 2003 When boarding an airplane with the intent of jumping out be ready to jump mentally, physically and make sure your gear is ready too. How many times have you gotten on the plane, gotten wrapped up in the social activities and before you knew it jump run was the current event? Be ready to get out before getting in. Giving a cheststrap a "tug" is not sufficient, look at the buckle and visually inspect it, touch it with your finger and make sure it is correctly routed. When I am on the airplane for the ride to altitude I am scanning the gear of those around me, looking for problems. When performing a gear check start from the top to bottom - don’t look for something that is wrong - look for everything to be RIGHT. Then if something is incorrect it will stick out like a sore thumb. The one thing I find most often is a misrouted RSL. I see 100 jump wonders all the time getting out without pin and gear checks! It is ridiculous! Regardless of how we may feel about someone off the DZ, we need to trust one another and look out for one another. Get pin checks! Make sure your gear is properly maintained and that your cutaway cable is clean and the 3 rings are maintained. These components make up our escape mechanism and it absolutely must work. Our survival depends on it. If you are not ready and are rushed the possibility you may miss something increases so remember the old cliché: It is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air rather than in the air wishing you were on the ground. AFFIMykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aero04 0 #10 June 17, 2003 Yep, thats what happens when you in too much of a damn hurry to get on board. You make a stupid mistake. I misrouted the chest strap the same way and fortunately it was caught on the ground from another jumper. I will never make that mistake again and I won't be rushed in my gear up to make a load. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallinWoman 1 #11 June 17, 2003 Rushing to gear up....a first link in the chain.... I will always check Skymedic's strap....one day when he geared up for pics (not for actual jumping) he misrouted it.... I am anal about checking it now. I also look around the plane and check people's gear... ~Anne I'm a Doll!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aero04 0 #12 June 17, 2003 QuoteRushing to gear up....a first link in the chain.... Absolutely. An accident is at the end of the chain. Break one of those links and you stop the accident before it starts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WayneRATS 0 #13 June 17, 2003 i'm a student (cat 5 bpa atm on 10 sec delays) and since my 3 second first freefall jump i've always casually had a glance round at other peoples handles and pads and straps.. i don't want some one on my lift creaming.... it might be a bit un-nerving ..------------------------ Can You Ere Me Now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #14 June 17, 2003 Trouble is a lot of people won't point out anything wrong to mega experienced people for fear they'll look like a total idiot.____________________ Say no to subliminal messages Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivejersey 0 #15 June 17, 2003 I had a camera flyer friend come with me on one load to film a 3 way. Grabs his helmet and camera and we're halfway to the plane and I turn to him and say "Don't you need a parachute?" 1st gear check. Make sure its there! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fudd 0 #16 June 17, 2003 I like the 3 x 3 rule. 3 buckles (se metal leg - leg - chest) 3 handles (pc - cutaway - reserve ) 3 rings (check both, and that the rsl is attached correct) Do it every time before going into the plane and before going out. I almost forgot the chin strap on my helmet once though . Someone pointed it out to me before I left the plane, but I think I would have noticed before exit. There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #17 June 17, 2003 Good catch. Congrats! I've been the idiot student that didn't have my chest strap routed correctly. Got on the plane. Jumped with my JM. My chest strap came undone in freefall. I noticed something was wrong and was getting ready to take a look when my JM grabbed me and my chest strap and showed me the chest strap. I believe the words out of my mouth at that time was "Oh, F&*K! I'm dead." Looked at him, nodded, deployed. Grabbed my harness by crossing my arms and grabbing the opposite side of the harness. Landed. And spent a few minutes on the ground thanking God that I was alive and my JM's skill at holding onto me while I deployed. Since then, I've been anal about checking my chest strap (usually a half dozen times between gearing up and jump run) and those on the load with me. I had thought I routed it correctly on that jump, but obviously didn't.Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #18 June 17, 2003 I had a similar insident. One of my legsrtap has opened during freefal from 2000m. It was an unpleasent surprise. I could hardly reach the breaks. Safe landings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,998 #19 June 17, 2003 >Trouble is a lot of people won't point out anything wrong to mega >experienced people for fear they'll look like a total idiot. I noticed a misrouted chest strap on a woman during a big-way record attempt about 30 seconds before exit. She was also an AFF-I. It can happen to anyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #20 June 17, 2003 yeppers, I did the SAME thing, was rushing to get on the load and misrouted my chest strap.. Thank GOD someone else noticed on the plane... Makes ya think.... Oh, and again, Thanks DerrickI promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #21 June 17, 2003 Quote>Trouble is a lot of people won't point out anything wrong to mega >experienced people for fear they'll look like a total idiot. I noticed a misrouted chest strap on a woman during a big-way record attempt about 30 seconds before exit. She was also an AFF-I. It can happen to anyone. As a newbie, if I saw someone's gear that didn't look right, I would get the experienced jumper's attention, point to the piece of equipment in question and just say "I'm new at this, could you tell me if that strap of yours is done correctly?" There's nothing wrong with a little humility. If you're totally wrong, who gives a shit. I would hope folks on my load are checking out my gear. Nice catch Kevin. Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakydiver 0 #22 June 17, 2003 Because of the recent rash of misrouted chest strap, I've incorporated three checks in my ride to altitude check system. Never really thought of it before peolpe began mentioning it lately... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflybella 0 #23 June 17, 2003 >>I will never make that mistake again and I won't be rushed in my gear up to make a load. << I understand the context of what you're saying here - but trust me when I say that you WILL make that mistake again. Try to remember that, and to look for it before every jump. Look for it on yourself and on every other person on the plane. I know this sounds overly dramatic but you kill yourself every time you jump. And the only chance you have to save your life is gear in good working order. Your gear is all you have. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #24 June 17, 2003 About 3 years ago I rushed to make an 8 way and just made the plane. We pull a 5 way off the plane, great, finnish up with 11 points for a pick up load. I turn and track and I notice my rig is blowing off my shoulders. I look down and "Oh Shit" chest strap completely undone. The rig came with velcro on the chest strap and I had ran it through the fitting and mated the velcro. Sometime during the dive it had come loose. I waved off and sat straight up, threw the pc and crossed my arms over my head. The risers slapped the shit out of my arms but I did not fall out. As soon as I landed I cut the velcro off and to this day when I see it on a rig I jump all over the person wearing it. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #25 June 17, 2003 QuoteAs soon as I landed I cut the velcro off and to this day when I see it on a rig I jump all over the person wearing it. Are you saying that elastic keepers are bad also? How do you secure the extra length of your chest strap? Tying it in a knot could be advocated as a countermeasure for the accidental misrouted chest strap (it would not matter then), but I don't think it is good for the long term strength of the webbing.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
