Falling out of a Harness

[Andy9o8 2]

That might address the hole in the bottom, which I realize hasn't caused many fatalities (it has caused a couple). I still wish the chest strap issue was dealt with in a more fail-safe fashion as part of standardized design.

[billvon 2,989]

> That might address the hole in the bottom, which I realize hasn't
>caused many fatalities (it has caused a couple.)

Which ones did it cause? (we're talking sport rigs here.)

>I still wish the chest strap issue was dealt with in a more fail-safe fashion
>as part of standardized design.

I think you can still get B-12's/quick ejectors on many rigs on the chest strap, so you still have options. Or go Winsor's route and just never disconnect it. (You can't misroute it if you never have to unroute it!)

[Andy9o8 2]

I was referring to the tandem accident. Not identical to a 1-person sport rig, but still emblematic of the issue.

[billvon 2,989]

>Not identical to a 1-person sport rig, but still emblematic of the issue.

I disagree. A tandem harness is nothing like a sport harness; a tandem is nothing like a sport skydive. They're different animals and require different gear with different design considerations.

A quick example. There have been several incidents over the past few years due to premature deployment bag releases on tandems. Should we therefore redesign sport rigs to try to prevent that problem? Perhaps add a secondary release that will keep the container closed even if the pin is extracted? Or would that be solving a nonexistent problem?

[upndownshop 0]

Quote

> I think you can still get B-12's/quick ejectors on many rigs on the chest strap, so you still have options. Or go Winsor's route and just never disconnect it. (You can't misroute it if you never have to unroute it!)

I know you can with a Javelin, but they highly discourage it. Had a request a few years ago. It was a jumper from the old days, used to the rounds and all. Once I asked him if he really wanted a B12 on his chest if he ever face planted it,he decided to save the $75.00 and stick with the standard set up.

[aresye 0]

The best mod to fix the chest strap misrouting issue is...







Take your time, look at the strap, and route it correctly.

Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours.

[BrianM 1]

Quote

The best mod to fix the chest strap misrouting issue is...

Take your time, look at the strap, and route it correctly.

That, and look at everybody else's in the plane. I do on every jump.

"It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

[chrismgtis 0]

Quote

The best mod to fix the chest strap misrouting issue is...



Take your time, look at the strap, and route it correctly.

I jerk my chest strap hard about 5 times before each jump. I'm paranoid.

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033
Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

[RaXz 0]

I have to fight the temptation to jerk on the chest strap of others, I don't wanna be a jerk, so I only watch.

[skydiverek 63]

Quote

Belly bands

Attached are the pictures of Vector 3 belly band.

[Andy9o8 2]

Whoa, that looks extremely unstylish! OK, I take back everything I said.

[CarloC 0]

That looks very overkill and very uncomfortable too.

A little paranoid in my opnion.

Blue ones and stay safe!

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

That looks very overkill and very uncomfortable too.

A little paranoid in my opnion.

Sigh.

[fcajump 164]

Quote

Quote

Belly bands

Attached are the pictures of Vector 3 belly band.

I like it.
Now I just wish I could afford a new rig...

JW

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

[dunderhead1 0]

Quote

Quote

Belly bands

Attached are the pictures of Vector 3 belly band.

the reserve handle looked ridiculous small, it should made much bigger

[skydiverek 63]

Quote

the reserve handle looked ridiculous small, it should made much bigger

Looks like a standard size handle to me.

[NickDG 23]

Whoa! That ripcord cable looks way way too short.

You'd better check it's not kinked up in the housing somewhere. There should be some slack, and the end of the cable and the swedge should extend below the ripcord handle a bit more.

If that is its true length it looks as if another jumper taking a hanging grip on your harness could open the reserve container . . .

NickD

[skydiverek 63]

Quote

Whoa! That ripcord cable looks way way too short.

You'd better check it's not kinked up in the housing somewhere. There should be some slack, and the end of the cable and the swedge should extend below the ripcord handle a bit more.

If that is its true length it looks as if another jumper taking a hanging grip on your harness could open the reserve container . . .

NickD

The slack starts from the TOP part of the metal handle, not the bottom part (i.e. there is plenty of slack = everything that you see is in this particular photo IS the slack).

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

> That might address the hole in the bottom, which I realize hasn't
>caused many fatalities (it has caused a couple.)

Which ones did it cause? (we're talking sport rigs here.)

An incident doesn't have to end in a fatality to make it of concern. There has been more than one sport jumper almost fall out of the back of a properly sized and adjusted sport harness. Hasn't there been an AFF fatality overseas due to this, although I heard the harness was a bit big? Valinda can take her rig off without undoing anything. That gives me pause.

[chrismgtis 0]

Quote

Valinda can take her rig off without undoing anything. That gives me pause.

She's not a fatty like some of us.

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033
Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

[billvon 2,989]

>An incident doesn't have to end in a fatality to make it of concern.

Agreed. A serious injury would certainly qualify as well, as would be someone who was saved from injury/death by a coincidence or by chance.

>Valinda can take her rig off without undoing anything.

?? So can I. I can get out of my seatbelt and my climbing harness without disconnecting anything as well. I don't see that as a problem.

[humanflite 0]

Quote

Whoa, that looks extremely unstylish! OK, I take back everything I said.

So does falling out of your harness....

Regarding fatalities..
It wasnt a fatality for the student but it was for the French AFF instructor who died after he went below his hard deck in order to save her (her chest strap was undone)

[billvon 2,989]

>It wasnt a fatality for the student but it was for the French AFF
>instructor who died after he went below his hard deck in order to save her
>(her chest strap was undone)

That would actually argue that the fear over falling out of a harness is more dangerous than the actual risk of falling out of a harness.

[riggerrob 643]

Hasn't there been an AFF fatality overseas due to this, although I heard the harness was a bit big?

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

It happened in Nambia (South West Africa) around the turn of the century. A small female student was given a Naro Student rig with too large a harness. She fell out at opening time.

[JohnMitchell 16]

That was the one. Thanks.