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Malfunction Videos

You have two options for viewing and downloading Malfunction videos: Standard and Virtual Reality.

Disclaimer:These videos were produced using highly skilled, highly trained professionals jumping canopies that were packed by an FAA Master Rigger intentionally configuring the openings to demonstrate some of the more common malfunctions solely for the purpose of providing these training aids. USPA provides guidance for handling these situations based on input from the industry and from historical accounts. Your specific experience and procedures may vary based on gear, preference, training, instructor guidance or other factors.

Standard Malfunction Videos

 

This downloadable set of .mpg videos below is a series of malfunction videos (.mpg) hosted by AerOhio Skydiving Center with special thanks to Sherry Butcher and John "Wink" Winkler, D-5602.

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    Virtual Realty Malfunction Videos

    This set below is a series of VR malfunction videos hosted by Skydive Arizona with special thanks to JC Coldren, Jay Stokes, Carmen Villamil, Merit, Rigging Innovations, and VGE Skydiving. 

    On deployment, a suspension line is on top of the canopy, causing it to look like a bowtie.

    Solution:
    Pull the cutaway handle and immediately pull the reserve ripcord by at least 2,500 feet above the ground.

    Watch This Video

    You pull your main handle but only the pilot chute comes out. The main bag does not leave the container and the container remains closed.

    Solution:
    Look over your shoulder and tilt slightly to one side to increase the airflow across the back of your container. If this doesn't work, the Skydiver's Information Manual lists two different procedures. Discuss these with your Safety and Training Advisor to determine which version you should choose.

    1. Pull the cutaway handle and pull the reserve ripcord by at least 2,500 feet above the ground.
    2. Pull the reserve ripcord by at least 2,500 feet without cutting away first. In this case, be prepared to cutaway if the main canopy deploys.

    Watch This Video

    Your container opens and you have line stretch but the canopy does not come out of the deployment bag.

    Solution:
    Pull the cutaway handle and immediately pull the reserve ripcord by at least 2,500 feet above the ground.

    Watch This Video

    On deployment, part of the canopy snags on your body, such as your pilot chute wrapped around your arm. The shape of your partially deployed main and lines might resemble a horseshoe.

    Solution:
    If the pilot chute and bridle is entangled with your arm, try to clear it by pointing up, allowing the flow of wind to help you clear it off your body.
    If the pilot chute is still packed in its pouch, try and locate it and pull it to clear the horseshoe. In either case, make no more than two attempts to clear the horseshoe malfunction, altitude permitting.

    Watch This Video

    If this doesn't work, pull the cutaway handle and immediately pull the reserve ripcord by at least 2,500 feet above the ground.

    Watch This Video

    Some possible ways the parachutes fly together might be ...

    • Biplane
      Leave the brakes stowed on the back canopy. Steer the front canopy gently using toggles or leave the brakes stowed and steer by pulling on the rear risers. Perform a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) on landing.

      Watch This Video

    • Side-by-side
      If the two canopies are not tangled, and clear separated, you may choose to cut away and fly the reserve to a safe landing. However, if they are touching, leave the brakes stowed on the smaller canopy. Steer the dominant (larger) canopy gently using toggles or leave the brakes stowed and steer by pulling on the rear risers. Perform a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) on landing.

      Watch This Video

    • Downplane
      Disconnect the reserve static line and pull the cutaway handle to release the main canopy.

    • Entanglement
      Try to pull in the least inflated if you have time and ability. Perform a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF). The best advice is to avoid this complex and dangerous possibility by maintaining your gear, getting gear checks, being altitude aware, pulling on time, etc.

    You deploy then see your canopy "there" but not "square" yet, just hovering above you without inflating.

    Solution:
    Most modern canopies will take approximately five seconds to completely inflate after the deployment is started, some may take as long as 10 seconds. Altitude awareness is critical, and if the canopy is not fully inflated by 2,500 feet, pull the cutaway handle followed immediately by pulling the reserve ripcord.

    Watch This Video

    You may have a broken line, a rip in the fabric, a pilot chute entangled in the lines or other canopy damage or inconsistencies.

    Solution:
    Go with the standard evaluation process:
    THERE SQUARE STEERABLE!
    Evaluate steering and stability in turns and flare. If a broken line is a steering line, you might choose to use rear risers to steer and flare instead of cutting away, depending on your experience and knowledge of that particular canopy. In general, if there is more than one broken suspension line, it is a good idea to cut away and deploy the reserve even if the canopy seems to be flying correctly. If there is a hole in the canopy that is large enough to stick your head through, or you can see sky through any sized hole in the bottom skin, cut away the main canopy and deploy the reserve.

    Watch This Video

    Your pilot chute after opening flies in front of the nose of your canopy and may even entangle in the lines.

    Solution:
    Go with the standard evaluation process:
    THERE SQUARE STEERABLE!
    Evaluate steering and stability in turns and flare.

    Watch This Video

    You deploy then experience the risers and/or lines are twisted above your head. Sometimes you are turning as well, and on medium performance canopies, you may be spinning violently, likely with the slider up high on the lines.

    Solution:
    If the canopy has opened normally with no twists, but simply turns on its own, be sure both brakes are released. One toggle may have come unstowed on opening.

    If the canopy is centered above your head, not spinning or diving, pull apart on the risers and kick, just like if you were in a swing in the park. You can also squeeze the risers together and untwist your body underneath, as if you were wringing something out. Keep looking at your altitude to gauge the amount of time you have to try and fix this, with your decision altitude in mind.

    If the canopy is spinning, diving, and you are not oriented underneath it, pull the cutaway handle followed immediately by pulling the reserve ripcord by at least 2,500 feet.

    Watch This Video

    Line twist while flying a wingsuit is similar to experiencing line twist on any non-wingsuited skydive. The difference is in the forward throw of the jumper during the deployment, due to the inflating parachute slowing down the forward speed as well as the descent rate of the wingsuit jumper. Depending on the design of the wingsuit, it might not be possible for the jumper to reach the risers until the arms of the wingsuit are unzipped.

    Solution:
    After inflation of the main canopy, if line twist exists and the canopy is spinning, it may not be possible to clear the line twist. If the wingsuit arms restrict movement to the point where the risers cannot be reached, unzip the wingsuit arms. Work to clear the twists either by spreading the risers, or pushing them together and twisting them in the appropriate direction. If the twists cannot be cleared by your decision altitude, collapse the leg wings by putting your feet and knees together, cutaway and pull the reserve ripcord.

    Watch This Video

    View the VR Videos

    visit
    uspa.org/malfunctions
    in your browser, then choose to open in YouTube app or other VR player app. You can swipe on the video to change your view 360° For an even better experience, use a VR headset and select the VR icon and take a look around!

    simply visit
    uspa.org/malfunctions
    and view these in the YouTube player. You can drag your mouse around on the video to change your view 360°

    NOTE: this method requires advanced technical knowledge about your particular device
    This is a great option when you cannot get a good streaming signal at your dropzone. Visit Merits.com
    and click on your USPA Membership Merit.


    Click on Universal Videos and Select the ellipses menu on the right next to the video you want to download and click Download. When the video opens, click on the download icon and rename the file to something you can remember in a folder you choose.

    Transfer these video files to your mobile device using iTunes or your normal media library client. Use a VR player app to open and view these stored files either standalone or in a VR headset.

    This is a great option when your dropzone does not have good internet service or if you want an advanced high tech experience. Visit Merits.com
    and click on your USPA Membership Merit.


    Click on Universal Videos and Select the ellipses menu on the right next to the video you want to download and click Download. When the video opens, click on the download icon and rename the file to something you can remember in a folder you choose.

    Download a VR player, such as the free GoPro Player so that your computer can play these in virtual reality mode. (For example, Windows Media Player cannot play these in VR.) You can drag your mouse around on the video to change your view 360°

    For an even more advanced high tech experience, you can use one or more VR headsets remotely controlled by your computer. This allows an instructor to facilitate the experience to a class while monitoring onscreen.

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