18C4V
09-24-2013, 22:24
Just a heads up with issues with the MA-10UD model.
Any other teams out there having issues such as the ones we had? Altimeter freezing on altitude climb and in free fall?
My team just got back from a level one sustainment and we were using the MA-10UD Altimeter which is rated to 40,000. At the first issue we were at jump number 12 and in our stand off phase.
The first issue was doing a stand off and my MFF JM's altimeter froze at the yellow light which was two minutes from our HARP. I quickly trouble shot (powered it on/off) with negative results and quickly switched it out with the older model (MA2-30) that I had in my admin pouch on my kit.
The second issue was during free fall during jump 15 for a super slick HALO jump. My altimeter froze at 5,000 and luckily the other MFF JM was in front of me so I could estimate (by counting) and I was able to pull when he pulled.
So I pulled our MA-10's from service since we were entering night week and we used the old MA2-30 the next week with no issues.
Lesson learned for me to have two alimeters on my wrist vs having one on my chest (super slick) or in my admin pouch with kit on.
Our riggers know about the issues and I sent the the complete Navy safety message (partial below)
Stay safe out there!!!!!
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PER REF A, REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY ALTI-2, INC. OF MA-10 ALTIMETER POINTERS STICKING DURING ALTITUDE CLIMB AND FREEFALL. THE MA-10 ALTIMETER HAS TWO POINTERS, ONE ABOVE THE DIAL FACE AND ONE BELOW (180 DEGREES OFFSET); INVESTIGATION BY ALTI-2, INC. HAS SHOWN THAT UNDER SOME CONDITIONS THE POINTER BELOW THE DIAL FACE (NOT VISIBLE TO THE USER) CAN COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SIDE OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE MOTOR INCREASES TORQUE TO "CATCH UP" AND THE INCREASING PRESSURE EFFECTIVELY LOCKS THE POINTER AGAINST THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO ALTI-2, INC. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF MA-10 ALTIMETERS IN THE FIELD.
Any other teams out there having issues such as the ones we had? Altimeter freezing on altitude climb and in free fall?
My team just got back from a level one sustainment and we were using the MA-10UD Altimeter which is rated to 40,000. At the first issue we were at jump number 12 and in our stand off phase.
The first issue was doing a stand off and my MFF JM's altimeter froze at the yellow light which was two minutes from our HARP. I quickly trouble shot (powered it on/off) with negative results and quickly switched it out with the older model (MA2-30) that I had in my admin pouch on my kit.
The second issue was during free fall during jump 15 for a super slick HALO jump. My altimeter froze at 5,000 and luckily the other MFF JM was in front of me so I could estimate (by counting) and I was able to pull when he pulled.
So I pulled our MA-10's from service since we were entering night week and we used the old MA2-30 the next week with no issues.
Lesson learned for me to have two alimeters on my wrist vs having one on my chest (super slick) or in my admin pouch with kit on.
Our riggers know about the issues and I sent the the complete Navy safety message (partial below)
Stay safe out there!!!!!
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PER REF A, REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY ALTI-2, INC. OF MA-10 ALTIMETER POINTERS STICKING DURING ALTITUDE CLIMB AND FREEFALL. THE MA-10 ALTIMETER HAS TWO POINTERS, ONE ABOVE THE DIAL FACE AND ONE BELOW (180 DEGREES OFFSET); INVESTIGATION BY ALTI-2, INC. HAS SHOWN THAT UNDER SOME CONDITIONS THE POINTER BELOW THE DIAL FACE (NOT VISIBLE TO THE USER) CAN COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SIDE OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE MOTOR INCREASES TORQUE TO "CATCH UP" AND THE INCREASING PRESSURE EFFECTIVELY LOCKS THE POINTER AGAINST THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO ALTI-2, INC. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF MA-10 ALTIMETERS IN THE FIELD.