RESERVE RIPCORD

[RIGGER 0]

Today an skydiver who study in East Europe arrived with his Voodoo h/c which was packed there by a Rigger/Reserve packer after a reserve deployment.

The skydiver lost his Reserve ripcord.

The person who packed his reserve there set him a "D" ripcord which is:

1. A NON TSO'd "Rigging Innovations" ripcord.
2. The cable ends with a BALL only & not with a ball & shank as all RI's reserve ripcord.
3. The cable is SO SHORT that there is "ZERO" freedom in the cable.

The use of such a SHORT cable is a HIGH RISK !!!
which could be eliminated by Riggers, the rig owners
and the DZ.

Riggers & Skydivers ( Rig owners) be aware of:

1. Use ONLY the h/c Mfg. TSO'd Reserve Ripcords.
2. Be aware that the ripcord specification match the h/c.

Safe Rigging & Skydiving !!!

Enclosed a photo.

[RyanofOZ 0]

Thats an accident waiting to happen.....

Oz

[RIGGER 0]

The rig is grounded & a new RI reserve ripcord was ordered form RI.

Blue Skies !!!

[masterrig 1]

That's the best way to do it! Good call! I have seen that same situation (as you described) several times, over the years. Sometimes, just the movement of getting into or out of the aircraft, could move the pin far enough to deploy the reserve pilot-chute. All it takes is a phone call to the manufacturer along with the H/C serial no.

Chuck

[riggerrob 558]

Only having a ball on the end of the cable - vs. ball and shank - is a minor point. Without the shank, that ripcord is not RSL compatible.

However, the SHORT ripcord is an accident looking for a place to happen!

[Remster 24]

Rib,

for us non-riggers out there, can you explain why that make the ripcord non rsl compatible?

Remster

[riggerrob 558]

Years before they introduced the Voodoo, Rigging Innovations pull tested a variety of ripcord configurations.
Ripcords with only a ball on the end passed the 300 pound test - specified by the FAA.
However, several ball-only ripcords failed the 600 pound test specified by the FAA for RSL-equipped rigs.
Ripcords with ball and shank consistently held more than the 600 pound load specified by the FAA for RSL-equipped rigs.
Therefore, R.I. only installs ball-and-shank ripcords in RSL-compatible harness/containers.

[RIGGER 0]

" A NON TSO'd "Rigging Innovations" ripcord".

Means the ripcord is not made by RI.

Safe Rigging !!!