Hi! I had my first cutaway this weekend. I am student with only 24 jumps but I am hoping to have many more safe jumps in the coming years. I was flying a student canopy called Falcon (either 240 or 300 - dont know sorry).
After opening at 1500m the slider came only half way down and the lines leading to the left side of canopy were entangled (see the picture - sorry for the quality). The entanglement caused the two left canopy cells not to inflate. It also pulled left side of the canopy slightly down which caused the canopy to turn somewhat slowly to the left. My guess is that the 360 deg turn would be completed (by itself) in approx. 7 seconds (did not try a whole turn). I tried to "pump" the malfunction away but it only did help the slider to come down. At approx. 1000m I gave up the pumping, checked whats below me and cut away. Thankfully reserve came up ok.
#1: I just wanted to check with you guys if this malfunction is common or if you even consider it a malfunction? I dont remember learning about this precise malfunction. The closest one would be a "line over". What can cause this? Is this a out of sequence opening?
#2: Would you land this? My instructors told me that it is individual and that I did the right thing by cutting away, but I think they say that only not to discourage possible further cutaways when the situation is more severe. I just wanted to know the unbiassed opinion:) (to actually learn something).
#3: Say that this happened on my reserve, what do I do? During landing I just flare the malfunctioning side all the way down and the ok one only so far as not to induce a turn? And then of course a PLF.
#4: Or is there something else that I should have tried to clear this?
Thanks guys for possible answers. Hopefully at least I learn something from this cutaway.
