Blown Crossport, check those mains!

[rapper4mpi 0]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up about what happened to me. I think this post belongs here because it is a safety issue.

When we get our reserves repacked, they get inspected. How many of us get our mains inspected? How many of us inspect our mains ourselves? These are rhetorical questions, please, it is not necessary to answer them. I just wanted to let everyone know about my situation recently.

I sent my wonderfuly opening Sabre 170 to PD to get a precautionary relining. I only have 325-350 jumps on the canopy, but I knew I would be hitting close to 500 during this season, I didn't want to send it in mid-season. I bought this canopy new, so I know it well. Anyway, PD called to let me know that one of the cross-ports on the 8th rib (non-loadbearing) was blown-out and it would need to be replaced. It didn't cost much, and PD was still prompt with their service and very friendly as always. However, this blown cross-port was caught during their routine inspection, and missed by me. I guess, I never really spend a lot of time inspecting my canopy on the INSIDE. It flew fine and opened fine, NOT hard, like many other Sabres. PD said that the likely cause would be an uneven opening where most of the initial force was taken by that 8th cell. Anyway, with a big 170 Sabre, it isn't such a big deal initially (but could manifest into a major problem down the line), but I wanted to give everyone a heads to at least insect their mains once a season, if not more. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a rigger inspect it during your reserve repack. Well, I hope this helps all you jumpers out there, have a good and safe season.
-Rap

[piisfish 135]

I know that the 2 main riggers I use for packing my reserve also give a close look at all my gear.
and if they think something is wrong, or not so right, or is going to be bad, they call me to ask if they can do the mod. And I always say yes.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[mwabd1 0]

I had the same problem with my stilletto, the rib in between cells 1 and 2 ripped completly out and PD said that it probley started as a tear in the crossport. I got it fixed and now look at all of the ribs and crossports everytime I pack.

[Designer 0]

Good post

[JohnMitchell 14]

Gonna be a lot of people with their heads stuck in their canopy this week. Me included.

[Unutsch 0]

Just out of curiousity: what's the YOM on your "wonderfully opening PS Sabre"?

Thanks

Check out the site of the Fallen Angels FreeflY Organisation:
http://www.padliangeli.org

[rapper4mpi 0]

My Sabre DOM is FEB 2001. After 100 jumps with sometimes brisk openings and eliminating many packing variables over this amount of jumps, I called PD. They recommended a larger slider which they gladly provided free of charge. I got a new slider and "wonderful" openings. This has been discussed in other posts so I won't say anymore. However, I acknowledge that the blown cross-port could have happened on jump number one, or jump number 325, most likely over a period of time inbetween those jumps.
-Rap

[riddler 0]

I've often wondered why canopy manufacturers don't reinforce crossports. I know it would increase pack volume. I also know that the ribs don't normally bear a lot of load. But every time I inspect a canopy, I see the crossports as just holes cut into the fabric, and I think about how easy it would be to tear open. Seems like some support tape might be a good idea??

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[billvon 2,395]

>I've often wondered why canopy manufacturers don't reinforce crossports.

Because they're not a significant factor in canopy failure, and you don't see canopies with overstressed crossports very often.

[ryoder 1,381]

Quote

I've often wondered why canopy manufacturers don't reinforce crossports. I know it would increase pack volume. I also know that the ribs don't normally bear a lot of load. But every time I inspect a canopy, I see the crossports as just holes cut into the fabric, and I think about how easy it would be to tear open. Seems like some support tape might be a good idea??

The original ParaFoil 189's had mesh sewn over every crossport. A damn good idea. Alternatively, building ribs from plain old 1.1 MilSpec fabric like the old ejection canopies used, is leaky enough you don't need crossports.

I once watched a guy land a canopy that had blown out ALL the crossports in one rib, splitting the rib lengthwise from nose to tail. It looked like a snake that had swallowed a rabbit.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.