USPA update on another pilot chute-in-tow due to bridle piercing.

[ridestrong 1]

In an email today.

"Watch Out for a Pilot Chute-In-Tow Malfunction!
USPA recently learned of another reported pilot-chute-in-tow malfunction that occurred when a main closing pin pierced the pilot chute bridle and locked the main container closed. Luckily, the reserve canopy deployed successfully, and the jumper was able to land safely, even though the bridle had entangled with the reserve risers.

This makes a total of six known cases of this type of malfunction. USPA first learned of this issue in 2009 and again in 2010 and each time asked the Parachute Industry Association and the container manufacturers to look into bridle designs for possible changes (see “Keep an Eye Out” in the November 2009 and November 2010 issues of Parachutist). Careful routing of the bridle can help to lower the chances of this type of malfunction, although in the latest case, the jumper was sure she had routed the bridle in such a way that the pin should not have been able to pierce the bridle. Several different container models have experienced this malfunction, so the issue is not just with one type of container."

*I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.*
----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

[ridestrong 1]

I started rerouting my bridle as recomended by UPT awhile back, so there should be no plausible way for a bridle piercing.

Looking to add the link for the routing info, haven't found it yet.... if anyone else can beat me to it.

ETA: only down side I can see to the different routing method is that you can't visualize the pc 'cocking indicator' without pulling out the bridle from its packed position.

*I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.*
----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

[dgw 8]

Me too, although my understanding is that UPT pitch it as an alternative, rather than a recommended closing sequence. I will, no doubt, be corrected if I am wrong...

The additional advantage, in my view, is that you don't have to be concerned with leaving the 'slack' above the pin / closing loop, which is another potential source of a pcit if omitted.

[Ron 7]

Amazing how we have to learn the same shit over and over.

This has happened before, I was warned about it in the 90's

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[DaVinciflies 0]

Just another reason to jump a pullout.

[Divalent 89]

I'm trying to figure out how this can occur.

How exactly does the pin end up piercing the bridle?

And what is the alternative closing technique/bridle routing that prevents it?

I normally don't reposition the pin after inserting it, so generally the curve of the pin is going out to the left and curving upward towards the top of the rig. Which means the blunt end of the pin is visible (and the bridle is to the right of it; running straight up/down). On my rig (and probably on all others) I could position the pin so that the curve is, say, going up and curving to the right, and so would always be hidden by the bridle material on top.

IOW, normally it looks like this \_o
but I could rotate it 90 degrees CW. would that make a difference?

Any help appreciated

[PiLFy 0]

Here is UPT's alternate bridal routing link:
http://unitedparachutetechnologies.com/PDF/Support/Sport/ALTERNATIVE_MAIN_CONTAINER_CLOSING_TIP_INSTRUCT-027_Rev-0.pdf

Dunno. Maybe it's my inexperience talking, but it seems extremely rare (& more of a fluke). 3-4 million skydives per year since '09, & only six confirmed instances of this? I'm hesitant to start monkeying around w/my bridal's routing, yet. It makes me wonder if these six jumpers were mashing their rigs against the bulkheads on the way up. What do the old dawgs say?

[JohnMitchell 14]

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I'm trying to figure out how this can occur.

Me too.

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And what is the alternative closing technique/bridle routing that prevents it?

I'm guessing it's coming and going from the bottom of the flaps instead of coming out the top and going to the bottom. For a long time that's how we always closed containers. I don't remember when the manufacturers changed the bridle routing. It certainly works either way.

[Remster 24]

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I'm trying to figure out how this can occur.

Me too.

You most probably know this John, but for others

The accepted reason behind why this happens is that some people like everything tight, including their bridle above the pin. There should be slack above the pin,before it goes and gets tucked in under the side flap. Some bridles/rigs have a piece of Velcro to try and force jumper to leave enough slick, others don't.

If this isn't clear, ask a rigger at your dz.

Remster

[Divalent 89]

I can't envision how this could lead to the pin piercing the bridle.

I could see how it might lead to a PCIT if the bridle leading into the container is so tight that the PC can't pull enough slack to allow the pin to get out of the closing loop.

Is it that when the bridle reaches extension, and rotates the pin (so that the curve of the pin is now curved upwards with respect to the plane of the container surface), that if the end of the pin is under a taut bridle, it might have enough force to pierce it as it is rotating up?

That's about the best I can do with what you said. And if that is the case, the only fix needed (for both scenarios) is just to ensure that there is enough slack on the bag side of the pin.

[DSE 3]

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I'm trying to figure out how this can occur.

Me too.

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And what is the alternative closing technique/bridle routing that prevents it?

I'm guessing it's coming and going from the bottom of the flaps instead of coming out the top and going to the bottom. For a long time that's how we always closed containers. I don't remember when the manufacturers changed the bridle routing. It certainly works either way.

Some wingsuiters have been closing their rigs with the "new" UPT method for a long time. Chuck Blue turned me on to this several years ago, and the mechanics of it have no downside.

[faulknerwn 36]

I've seen it a couple times and mine werent any of the ones uspa mentions. So I suspect it's happened even more. I never saw it happening until the fad in recent years of covering the pin with the bridle - that's why I always leave my pin off to the side of the bridle.

[JohnMitchell 14]

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Some wingsuiters have been closing their rigs with the "new" UPT method for a long time. Chuck Blue turned me on to this several years ago, and the mechanics of it have no downside.

I'm switching over next pack job. I never understood why they started bringing it out the top anyway.

[masterrigger1 2]

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I'm trying to figure out how this can occur.

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Me too.

It is pretty simple.

The main flaps have become tighter and more compressive to the bridal/pin assembly.
So when the pin rotates during via a pilot chute extraction. the flap becomes a "Backing Board" if you will.

If you look at the picture in the UPT link, you will notice the distance of the velcro tab (which is now covered) and the pin relevant to the mouth of the main tuck tab closure.

This short distance and and bridal/pin compression by the flap is the culprit IMHO.

So if you have a rig that has the same issues, you might want to change to a below the flap packing method on the next pack job.


BS,
MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[diablopilot 2]

Love me some pullout.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[stayhigh 2]

if your main flap is very tight against the pin, the pin will not stand immediately and swing up towards the end of the pin first.

if you insist on smily face myth and the pin swings up and tip catches the bridal it can create a container lock. tip of the pin should point away from the bridal.

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[masterrigger1 2]

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if your main flap is very tight against the pin, the pin will not stand immediately and swing up towards the end of the pin first.

First, you are confused to think that the pin is swinging "up".

It is swinging or rotating around into the 90 degree fold caused by the velcro mating and the main flap.

Think about it like this.
The compression of the main flap, along with the 90 degree turn of the bridle, makes a little fold that sits just in front on the pin.
The main pin flap will not allow that fold to move, so the pin sometimes just goes throgh it.

Another thing to think about is that we never had this issue with looser fitting main flaps.

Now we do.

MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[JohnMitchell 14]

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Love me some pullout.

Yeah, I've got about 3K pullout jumps, Racers and Infinities. But Spot and the gang said I had to have a throw out if I wanted to fly like a bird (man). That and a shoulder surgery made me make the switch. So far, so good.

[JohnMitchell 14]

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So if you have a rig that has the same issues, you might want to change to a below the flap packing method on the next pack job.


BS,
MEL

Thanks. I think I will go back to how we did it 25 years ago.

[masterrigger1 2]

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Thanks. I think I will go back to how we did it 25 years ago.

Wow! Pins and Cones!

MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[JohnMitchell 14]

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Thanks. I think I will go back to how we did it 25 years ago.

Wow! Pins and Cones!

I said "25", not "35"!

[drop-bear 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Kw0ZafG4c, from about 3:25 onwards in this UPT video it shows the bridle routing method.

Also like the trick of putting your knee through the shoulder strap, hadn't seen that one before.

[strife 0]

I wondered how common this issue would be and was surprised to see it turn up as an incident in our Safety Report in the Oz Skydiver magazine

http://en.calameo.com/read/000014177206dc52c0a8b

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Flying High Manufacturing and (I believe) Parachutes de France have never stopped using that method. Flying High also has a small square of hook and one of pile just above the pin adjacent to each other to accomplish the guaranteed slack that the velcro on the top flap achieves on other rigs.

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

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Dunno. Maybe it's my inexperience talking, but it seems extremely rare (& more of a fluke). 3-4 million skydives per year since '09, & only six confirmed instances of this? I'm hesitant to start monkeying around w/my bridal's routing, yet. It makes me wonder if these six jumpers were mashing their rigs against the bulkheads on the way up. What do the old dawgs say?

Only six REPORTED cases. I know of two more which occurred to friends. I am fairly confident that neither were reported.

The USPA incident reporting system is effectively dead. (See the "Gearing Up" editorial in the July 2012 issue of Parachutist. http://parachutistonline.com/columns/gearing_up/july%202012) It cannot be used to tell us about the rates of anything!

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!