Reserve Pin/Bungee Warning
Paul Voight
Paul Voight «flyhighpaul» writes:
On two occasions now, during reserve repackings-clinics, one just yesterday, one a couple seasons ago, have encountered the following SERIOUS issue regarding reserve safety pins:
Apparently some pilots (or re-packers) change out the bungees for fatter gauge bungees. This fat stuff is hard to pass through a grommet even when new.
Old bungee hardens and I've had pilots trying to do mock deployments, where the chute handle pins come out of the bungees (just fine), but the bungees make the chute "flap" impossible to open by pulling on the chute handle.
The loop in the bungee is bigger than the grommet holes. The flap is locked shut.
The photo shows on the left an older style but acceptable size Wills Wing version of "correct" size bungee that passes through a grommet no problem. The fat bungee was what I found installed on a harness yesterday.
I'd just caution all pilots to check their bungees, to verify they are of a small enough diameter to pass through the grommets easily when you pull on the reserve handle.
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