nraoaoc@nmt.edu (Daniel Briggs) (03/22/91)
On to a slightly less sensitive topic.... In article <1085@wa4mei.UUCP> chrise@wa4mei.UUCP (Chris England) writes: >I was witness to a similar "near accident". A friend of mine and I were >on the last load of the day, and planned on turning multiple points on a >two-way. I was following him out of the aircraft (c-182), when I noticed his >reserve pilot chut burbling slightly. I reacted suddenly by shoving him >off of the step, as he was unaware of what was behind him. I would guess >that when the reserve deployed, his head missed the elevator by about >3 feet. Now, as controversial as my actions may have been, the point >is, pin checks always need to be administered. This sounds like it could be an interesting thread building. As students, we are always taught to go for the canopy, when something has come loose. Now, that is usually predicated on the assumption that everyone is (a) still in the plane, and (b) the canopy has already come loose. We are also taught that if the canopy gets out of the plane, to follow it out or cutaway immediately! The situation described here doesn't really fit any of those assumptions. The person was already in the wind stream, so if the canopy itself had deployed, he was definitely going to leave. I don't really have a good feeling for what is meant by a 'burbling reserve pilot chute'. (How could you see it? The rig was a Racer, maybe? A throwout reserve??) Anyway, no one has ever taught me to deliberately push a jumper off the step. (Since the only jump plane at my drop zone is a Beech, I guess we wouldn't emphasize emergency procedures specific to a Cessna, though.) Chris could have gone for his buddie's backpack, or he could have pushed him. Are there any other reasonable actions he could have taken? Is pushing someone *ever* reasonable? I sure don't know. (BTW, Chris, I sure couldn't have done any better, so I'm not ragging on you!) What does everyone else think? As a side note, in a main canopy out the door situation, and a single operation reserve system, do you think it's better to cut away and hope you can contain the reserve, or should you gamble that you can get out the door fast enough to avoid going out the window, instead? -- This is a shared guest account, please send replies to dbriggs@nrao.edu (Internet) (505) 835-2974 Dan Briggs / NRAO / P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM / 87801 (U.S. Snail)
ds4a@dalton.acc.Virginia.EDU (Dale Southard) (03/23/91)
In article <1991Mar22.071136.13186@nmt.edu> dbriggs@nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs) wri tes: > > >As a side note, in a main canopy out the door situation, and a single >operation reserve system, do you think it's better to cut away and >hope you can contain the reserve, or should you gamble that you can OKet out the door fast enough to avoid going out the window, instead? I think the door would be a better option. I don't fancy having my reserve wrapped up in the tail (the PLF is a real bitch). --> --> Dale UVa (ds4a@virginia.edu)
SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG (SKYDIVE) (03/27/91)
Reply-to: Scott.Traurig@p0.f64.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Scott Traurig) Fido-To: uiucuxc!convex.mitek.com!matt >reserve??) Anyway, no one has ever taught me to deliberately push a >jumper off the step. (Since the only jump plane at my drop zone is a >Beech, I guess we wouldn't emphasize emergency procedures specific to >a Cessna, though.) Chris could have gone for his buddie's backpack, >or he could have pushed him. Are there any other reasonable actions >he could have taken? Is pushing someone *ever* reasonable? I sure >don't know. Now be gentle, I'm new to this discussion.... I don't know either, but was onced faced with a similar situation in an Otter. Our group of 4 was last out, and we were in no hurry so as to give the previous group (12+ way) plenty of room. As the previous group exited I was looking down at my rig for a last check, and when I looked up I saw our middle floater walking casually toward the door trailing his pilot chute! Not wanting to just jump on the pilot chute and possibly open his container, by the time I reached him he was backing out the door, and still no one noticed the pilot chute! Trying to haul this guy back in buy his chest strap was to no avail, he had no clue, and was determined to go skydiving! Just as our rear floater noticed what was going on and moved to help, I changed my tactics and tackled this guy out of the door and off the aircraft. As someone said previously, you should have seen the expression on his face when his parachute deployed. As luck would have it, our rear floater reported to us back on the ground that I and the pilot chute went out the door together. The moral of the story: check your's and everyone elses pilot chutes all the time, not just yours. Our front floater didn't know what was going on until we were all on the ground! Clearly, a less than sufficient safety awareness level. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are my own! Scott Traurig traurig@ncavax.decnet.lockheed.com D-13275 S/L JM 91 --- QuickBBS 2.66 a need for freefall.... --- eecp 1.45 LM2 * Origin: Skydive Over Texas (512)873-9464 FIDO: (1:382/64) -- SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13 (ehsnet.fidonet.org)