msb@link.UUCP (Mike S. Balenger x8789) (10/16/85)
This is a *real* case, not idle speculation!
This weekend, out of the corner of my eye, I watched what I figured to be a
good 5-10 second freefall. It looked strange, though. Something was wrong.
I finally was told that that 'funny white thing' on the jumper was his pilot
chute -- JM assisted. The student had backflipped off the step on a
JM-assisted 2nd jump. It wrapped around his leg, and refused to pull out
the main. After 5-10 seconds of shaking, it finally came free.
Would he have started emergency procedured? Luckily, it is a question that
doesn't need an answer. But probability theory has a way of eating away at
luck. Also, this is not the kind of experience that promotes return visits
by students.
We hear about students-in-tow, but how many have there really been. I would
bet that the number of trapped pilot chutes is larger than the number of
trapped static lines. I've never heard of a bad static line jump (except
the one which wasn't attached). I've heard of two bad JM-assisted pilot
chute jumps. From my little view of the world, I'd say that this was a
trend. The article in Parachutist sure seems to believe this also.
What do you think?
Michael S. Balenger ihnp4!link!msb (201) 949-8789 {Cornet 233-8789}
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Michael S. Balenger ihnp4!link!msb (201) 949-8789 {Cornet 233-8789}