happythoughts 0 #1 August 17, 2003 At Rantoul, there was a girl who had been jumping with us. A guy on the load named Danny noticed that her reserve cable had very little play. When she had her rig on and stretched, it was tight. My cable goes down to the bottom of my handle, hers went a half inch past the top. We went by Sunpath and they said that the rigger installed the wrong cable/handle. They replaced it and it now looks normal, but they said it could have fired the reserve if there was a lot of twisting. Maybe even opening shock would do it. She said the rigger had replaced a pillow with the handle. My hat is off to Danny for catching that. I don't think he posts here, but repeating the story may save another life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmpnkramer 0 #2 August 17, 2003 Right on. We should all take the time to look at not only our own gear but others as well. Not only while sitting around but especially when it is on and getting ready to jump. Anytime something does not look right or feel right go with your gut. Ask a rigger to check it out and look at it. It usually does not take long and it could be the difference between serious injury or Death! I know because the day I had the accident which took me out of the sport for a bit I knew something was going to go wrong. I had two other people look at my gear and they could not see anything bad. The rest is history. HappyThoughts has seen me beat the odds many times though. Not through my fault but others. Blue Skies & Soft Landings, KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #3 August 17, 2003 bill, WOW thanks for that info! thats something ive never though of! I look over everyones gear when I am in the plane, not physically , as I know some are not comfortable with it. I visually inspect the handles and harness. Ive caught quite a few things before the jump. thats one thing ive never looked at. I usually loo to see if its IN the proper place and looksto be in good. I just added another thing to look at.I always make sure the stopper is at the end of mine. I know ppl dont like a stranger looking over their stuff but I co it visually the best I canMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #4 August 17, 2003 QuoteI know ppl dont like a stranger looking over their stuff but I co it visually the best I can Well... you can only stare at that girls chest strap for so long before they become suspicious. My two constant checks are chest strap routing is correct and cutaway pillow is free. Sometimes cutaway pillows get tucked under the webbing. If people get annoyed, oh well. Skydiving is a very unforgiving sport. I check everyone on the plane that I can see. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #5 August 17, 2003 lol You should see somew of the looks I get...Looking at the boobs and crotch! but that where the straps are.... But i dont just check the womens rigs! rumor has it that a camera guy went in when he forgot his rig altogether. I would like to think thats a myth but as long as such rumors exist. I will urge ppl to look over their load for things like that. I know for a fact that there was a camera guy who got on a load w/o his rig. wasnt until he did his handle check that he realized I guess no body was looking out for him! He rode the plane down and got his shit then they went up and did the tandem videoMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsled92 0 #6 August 17, 2003 Quote rumor has it that a camera guy went in when he forgot his rig altogether. I would like to think thats a myth but as long as such rumors exist. I will urge ppl to look over their load for things like that. ///////////////////////////////////////////// I have heard that story too. C-130 jump, I was rushing from the far end RVs to ROCKY'PLACE (for my rig) then get there. one guy in line had to set my CYPRES and Dave DeWolf pointed out that my chest strap was off and still wrapped around my res. ring Haste DOES my waste._______________________________ If I could be a Super Hero, I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year. http://www.hangout.no/speednews/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #7 August 17, 2003 Quotebut they said it could have fired the reserve if there was a lot of twisting. Maybe even opening shock would do it. Good catch. I had one that DID fire the reserve on opening shock once. The cable wasn't too short.....something happened when I put the rig on. Misrouted...whatever. It was a "student" rig with all the adjustable straps. I felt the locking stows on the reserve tug about the time I got full inflation on the main. I got lucky....did everything right and JUST happened to be over a HUGE open field on the other side of Raeford's runway. Rode both canopies down. The REALLY REALLY stupid part. I can still remember walking to the plane thinking..."Hmmm...there's usually more slack in the cable than that." But I was "In a hurry." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tbrown 26 #8 August 17, 2003 rumor has it that a camera guy went in when he forgot his rig altogether. I would like to think thats a myth but as long as such rumors exist. I will urge ppl to look over their load for things like that. I know for a fact that there was a camera guy who got on a load w/o his rig. wasnt until he did his handle check that he realized The guy who died was in the Carolinas, can't remember whether it was NC or SC, or what year. But it made the papers. He was wearing his camera gear on a 2nd harness, so he probably felt like he had his harness on. He was last in the exit lineup and obvously nobody checked his gear. His camera survived the impact and there was a video of the dive that ended with him freaking out and screaming, at least that's what the papers said. We caught a cameraman with no rig on a pin check before exit once. Man was he ever surprised! But not surprised as if he'd jumped that way... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #7 August 17, 2003 Quotebut they said it could have fired the reserve if there was a lot of twisting. Maybe even opening shock would do it. Good catch. I had one that DID fire the reserve on opening shock once. The cable wasn't too short.....something happened when I put the rig on. Misrouted...whatever. It was a "student" rig with all the adjustable straps. I felt the locking stows on the reserve tug about the time I got full inflation on the main. I got lucky....did everything right and JUST happened to be over a HUGE open field on the other side of Raeford's runway. Rode both canopies down. The REALLY REALLY stupid part. I can still remember walking to the plane thinking..."Hmmm...there's usually more slack in the cable than that." But I was "In a hurry." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #8 August 17, 2003 rumor has it that a camera guy went in when he forgot his rig altogether. I would like to think thats a myth but as long as such rumors exist. I will urge ppl to look over their load for things like that. I know for a fact that there was a camera guy who got on a load w/o his rig. wasnt until he did his handle check that he realized The guy who died was in the Carolinas, can't remember whether it was NC or SC, or what year. But it made the papers. He was wearing his camera gear on a 2nd harness, so he probably felt like he had his harness on. He was last in the exit lineup and obvously nobody checked his gear. His camera survived the impact and there was a video of the dive that ended with him freaking out and screaming, at least that's what the papers said. We caught a cameraman with no rig on a pin check before exit once. Man was he ever surprised! But not surprised as if he'd jumped that way... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #9 August 18, 2003 Fantastic catch!!! good lesson for all of us, know thy rigger!!! Three years ago at a boogie I watched a rigger place the colored boogie ID zip tie around the reserve handle AND the webbing.......effectively locking it in place. he meant to put it on above the handle, but was in a hurry and ......oooooops RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bolas 5 #10 August 18, 2003 [Quote] The guy who died was in the Carolinas, can't remember whether it was NC or SC, or what year. I'm pretty sure it was in North Carolina at Carolina Sky Sports, don't know the year.Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
