Three Ring Release Rumors

motorjoe · August 23rd, 2001, 02:30 AM

Whoa Whoa Whoa! I am the lucky jumper who had his three rings release this past weekend. Let me clear up the rumors. First of all, there was no hurrying involved whatsoever. To the best of my knowledge, everything was properly assembled, and 5 jumps had been made without incident prior to the release. After the jump, the gear was dried and reassembled and everything gone over multiple times, putting it through several tests of different scenarios to see what may have happened. Several persons were involved with this, including VERY experienced jumpers, so I am confident and positive that everything was properly reassembled. I did 2 more jumps without incident, but here is the kicker. On the 3rd jump, it happened again. Luckily I once again walked away uninjured. Needless to say the rig is on its way back to the manufacturer for inspection. I credit my lack of injuries to staying as relaxed and loose as possible with my feet and knees together on impact. Certainly the water saved my life, but it could have been a lot worse than the nice bruises and stiff neck! I will post another message when i hear anything about what the problem could have been. Keep checking your gear and using your brains, but lets face it this sport is more dangerous than bowling.
Motor

guest · August 23rd, 2001, 07:19 AM

whose equipment was it? Im finding it real hard to believe that a correctly routed system failed twice. Its not that complex a system, nor difficult to assemble. If something didnt break, Im not buying magic seperation---a misrouting, something...Who was the manufacturer? I dont need this kind of bullsh't, period.

guest · August 23rd, 2001, 08:56 AM

If it was used and worked properly on previous and subsequent jumps, the riser apparently wasn't damaged.

If it was in fact properly assembled on the ground, the only way I can see this happening is if the release cable is coming out of the loop of the riser. I doubt that the cutaway handle is being pulled or otherwise dislodged. Since it is only happening on one side, I'm guessing the release cable is simply too short on that side.

That scenario would be most likely on the right hand riser. How much cable was above the loop when it was assembled on the ground? Notice any difference on the other riser? Is the housing anchored to the shoulder pad or is it allowed to "float" up with the riser as it is loaded?

Mark

guest · August 23rd, 2001, 09:51 AM

Mark has asked the questions I wouldhave. the amount of float a cable has during harness loading
is very critical as is the excess, with no damage, this points to improper float and/or excess...unless it´s something that has not been considered before.
space

obi · August 23rd, 2001, 11:02 AM

I have experienced a release on the drogue-3-ring on my tandem-rig a couple of years ago. Inspection showed that through moving and shifting and the pull of the drogue itself the cable of the 2nd release was pulled further and further and finally released the 3-ring (yes, although it was routed in hard-housings). Although it was an original manufacturer's cable, I found it to be too short and installed a longer one (no worries, the drogue will still release before the risers do...).
I could imagine that something similar has happened to you. Did it release right on opening?
The fact that it worked again 2 times after reassembly and then released again isn't surprising at all if the cable really is too short. On my tandem, the cable got pulled further with every jump till it released.
Since then, I pull the release-cables on every tandem-pack-job and I ALLWAYS check that there's enough extra-length of the cable after the loop on my Base-rig's 3-ring (as well as I check the loop and grommets).

Cheers, Obi

guest · August 23rd, 2001, 12:23 PM

I gotta hand it to you for jumping that rig after the first mysterious release. I'd be jumping vicariously through others while drinking bear and reading dirty magazines under the bridge; at least for the rest of the weekend.
So, I'm guessing that after you put your rig back together for the second time you might have some speculation as to what caused the release. Do you have any ideas? Does the cable appear to be even a little too short? Did you put the rig on (unpacked) and have someone above you pull on the risers to inspect where the end of the cable is under load?
What happened to you is something I have always feared; right up there with a total. Regardless of the manufacture, could you spare any more info. about the malfunction or rig? Was it new?

Buy two lotto tickets

thanks
MB

guest · August 23rd, 2001, 03:30 PM

Biggest phuckin fear is right! The skypunker knows the most likely question I'll ask him before a BASE jump..."Are my risors attached?" Did the "experienced jumpers" look at your setup?? Did you swap a cutaway handle from another rig?...incidentally which I've done before...10 years ago without thinking of the consequences.
More ##### to worry about. Good grief.
Charlie Brown

motorjoe · August 23rd, 2001, 07:34 PM

yes the experienced jumpers checked it as well as did I. The most likely is that it was similiar to what Obi said about his tandem drogue releasing, as the canopy inflated, and THEN released right after. I refuse to speculate anymore until i hear back from the manufacture, although i feel the solution is simply a longer cable. and yes i bought two lottery tickets that same day.

guest · August 27th, 2001, 02:48 AM

I guess the obvious next question is (for the manufacturers): What is the design minimum cutaway cable length past the locking loop? 3", 4", 5"?

I also think the manufacturer in question on this particular harness ought to be named in this forum so that other people who may be similarly affected can be alerted to the potential defect.

This whole issue has given me the willies. I count on the basic design and assembly of my harness to be OK so I can concentrate on the factors I more directly control.