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Information Notice 1/2009

TECHNICAL & SAFETY COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL PARACHUTING COMMISSION (FAI)

  Technical & Safety Information Notice No.   01/2009                                                              W.N. 22
 Date of Issue  28 January 2009  
 Subject Matter and Applicability                 

Following a riser failure on a PA Talon, the Australian Parachute Federation’s Director Rigging, Jo Chitty, issued the following notice.  This notice is of mandatory status for APF members, and it is being distributed by the Technical & Safety Committee of IPC to alert skydivers worldwide to the issues concerned.

________________________________________

  IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF RIGGING, AUSTRALIAN PARACHUTE FEDERATION.

 

MANDATORY INSPECTION OF ALL 3-RINGS PRIOR TO NEXT USE

 

  RISER FAILURE

 

On Sunday 18 January 2009, a PA Talon riser failed on opening. It was the left riser with RSL fitted. The reserve was deployed into the trailing main by the RSL resulting in a main reserve entanglement. Fortunately and with luck the jumper managed to attain sufficient reserve inflation to survive the landing with broken bones in his back and shoulder.

 

 During the investigation of his equipment it was found that the 3-ring closing loop had pulled out from under the confluence wrap, releasing the riser. It was reported as a snappy opening.The rig was built in June 99 and had undergone 12 reserve repacks over subsequent years.

                                         

In August 2001 the APF promulgated APF Service Bulletin No APF010801-A 3-ring Inspection And Maintenance. The inspection, Part A, is designated Mandatory. This rig‘s reserve had been packed six times since the service bulletin was published, and numerous other times when the main was packed and possibly the 3-rings serviced. Had the service bulletin been applied it would have highlighted that the riser did not meet the criteria of the service bulletin; the locking loop was too short.  

Due to the unique method of construction on this riser of bar-tacking across the loop it is probable that over a period of jumps some of the stitches had broken, due to the excessive load applied by the short locking loop until on this jump they failed completely allowing the loop to pull out of the riser, releasing it. It is impossible to visually inspect the stitching as it is covered by the confluence wrap; failure comes without warning signs. There was no kink in the left cutaway cable to warn of excessive loading. To prevent a similar event occurring especially when an RSL is fitted the following must occur.

 

  MANDATORY INSPECTION in accordance with APF Service Bulletin APF010801-B* Issued 23rd January  2009 of all 3-ring riser assemblies before the next jump. Inspection to be noted on reserve packing card and marked on inside of front riser with APF010801-B using a fine tip paint pen so it will be visible even if the risers are black.

 

  Note: APF SB 010801-B is also available for download from APF web site at: http://www.apf.asn.au/apf-sb-racs.html  

 

Inspection to be carried out by a packer B or higher rating. If there is any doubt the assembly should be checked and evaluated by a rigger.

 

 On all solo rigs and all types of riser style, one inch type 17 mini rings, type 8 mini rings and standard type 8 with the larger rings, the length of the locking loop should be level (+/- 2mm) with the end of the fold of the webbing that retains the small ring when the riser is laid flat with some tension applied to the small ring.

 

 It is normal for new type 17 mini risers to be tight to interlock the rings, this is because they become more pliable with use, but the locking loop must still allow the housing some play and not pull the small ring against the riser, see side view on service bulletin.

 

 *This Service Bulletin replaces APF SB 010801-A Issued August 2001. New inclusions: Identification of personnel to conduct inspection and required method to record inspection.   Typical view of locking loop length 

 

See detailed views of all risers in UPT (Relative Workshop) 1998 specifications. (Excerpts from this 20 pg manual are available from the APF Office for comparison of specific 3-ring construction tolerances. The entire manual is available from UPT.)

 

  When reserves are repacked the main parachute should also be inspected at all the key points of wear and function.

 

 This inspection of all 3-rings may be an inconvenience now but it should identify older systems that may still be in use that should have been removed from use. The consequences of riser failure are potentially fatal and need to be removed for our safety.

 

 Any inspections that result in identifying any 3-rings that do not conform to the inspection criteria outlined on APF SB 010801-B are to be recorded on an APF Equipment Defect Form and forwarded to the APF National Office c/o Kim Hardwick, the Technical Officer kim@apf.asn.au. This form is available for download from the APF web site at: http://www.apf.asn.au/apf-all_documents_and_forms.html  

 

Jo Chitty

 

Director Rigging

 

23rd January 2009 

 Compliance This APF notice is mandatory for APF members.  It is being circulated to Technical and Safety Offices in other countries for information. 
 Concerned Publication APF Service Bulletin APF010801-B* Issued 23rd January  2009Note: APF SB 010801-B is available for download from APF web site at: http://www.apf.asn.au/apf-sb-racs.html
 Authority

Australian Parachute Federation

 

P O Box 144, Deakin West, ACT 2600, AustraliaTel : +61 (0) 2 6281 6830Fax : +61 (0) 2 6285 3989E-mail : apf@apf.asn.auWeb : http://www.apf.asn.au 
 Acknowledgement Thanks to Jo Chitty, Director Rigging, APF and to Kim Hardwick, Technical Officer,  APF, for permission to use the APF notice. 

Liam McNulty

IPC Technical & Safety Committee08 February 2009 

 Technical and Safety Information Notices issued by the Technical & Safety Committee of the International Parachuting Commission (FAI) are issued as information and help to parachuting nations and their affiliated members.  The Information Notices are of an objective informative nature and there is no direct or implied criticism of any manufacturer or product intended.  The Information Notices do not claim to be complete.

 

  The Information Notices may result from:

 

1                     An incident or experience in the field being reported.

2                     A directive or notice issued by an aviation or government authority concerning parachuting operations or parachuting equipment.

3                     The issue of a notice by a manufacturer or by a National Parachuting Organisation.In the case of equipment being the subject of the bulletin the reader is advised to check with the manufacturer regarding the current status or position of that equipment. Technical & Safety Committee of IPC, IPC and FAI accept no liability for the use or misuse of any information contained in this Information Notice.  The reader assumes all liability.  

The Technical & Safety Committee, International Parachuting Commission, can be contactedon e-mail -  lmcnulty@skydiveireland.ie Liam McNulty, Technical & Safety Committee, International Parachuting Commission.08 February 2009 

 

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