Paracnuh hduslry l$s0clallon - Parachute Industry Association

'qne Eriast Parachtrltt;s
2825 South Washington Suile 1504 . Titusviile, FL 32780 . (305) 268-2833
Dear Parachute Industry Association Members,
July L4, 1986
I have recently investigated a canopy failure which I think
may shed some light on malfunctions. Some unusual circumstances
^^-*'i **^C
PsItu! L LE\ me to discover damage which is not generally visable
in most inquiries or might not be considered a factor. Additiona11y,
there were no supplemental damages to be pondered during
ny inspection.
The canopy involved in the incident, a 9-ce11, had just been
manufacturedr so I was able to inspect clean elements with no
prior damage. The first ju*p on the canopy was made by Dave
Hillebrandt, a Master Rigger with considerable C.R.W. experience.
He reported that the canopy opened and flew well with no problems
noted. The second jump was made by a D-license holder with well
over 20 years experience. He reported a very hard opening and
that the canopy bla not fly we11. , The "anopy
sufferbd dailage
but was not cut away so the only unusual condition causing damage
was the hard opening.
A very close inspection of the canopy was performed. Along
with damage to the canopy itself, a sma11 friction burn was noted
on the 8-6 line, 16" doi^rh f rom the canopy. Very slight burns
v/ere also found on 4-6 and B-7 at 22" air-d 25" dbwn t6e lines.
A11 of this damage was so minor it was first detected only by
touch and had the lines been dirty or worn would probablv-have
been missed.
The line damaee causes me to susDect that the rncident came
about by a few lines fornring a half fritch around the fu1l groLrp
in the area of the bag locking stovrs wiril-e packing or during
deployment. These lines jerked down the leading edge of the
canopy causing an uneven and very hard opcning. I have attcmpted
to repeat this on the ground with mixed results. Duplicating
the conditions where this coulci occur starts lvith some guess r,.rork
about what happens to lines near the canopy between the time the
slider is pu11ed up and when the bag locking stows are nade.
Other variables inclr-rde how tired or hurried the packer is and
how much care is given to the lines. In my tests I took a ful1
group or few lines from a group and made a bite. I then
selecLed a line either above or belov,r the bite, f ormed a loop
in it and slipped it over the bite. Then I made locking stows
on the bag and then pulled on the risor end of the 1ines. In
most cases my loop just fe11 off the line group but a few times
the loop did sinch tight and pu11 a littie before comming apart
as the main group became taught. I think that if real time,
speed and opening forccs were applicd the hitch would stay in
place longer and affect the opening. I further feel this could
r.ir t'7