Parachute malfunction

twistedsquid · 10-18-2012, 16:39

Received a special package from Dad today. His jump log, Airborne certificate and a picture of his main chute from his 21st jump. This is what he told me. He was at Jumpmaster school in Febuary of 1964. Exiting the C-130 and looking up after 4 seconds he saw "a bundle of rags". He pulled his reserve which fully deployed at 250 feet above the ground. He was jumping with a parachute equipment bag filled with rocks and no time to deploy the bungee. He crashed on top of it. Gathering himself he was confronted by a Puerto Rican National Guard LTC (acting as DZ security) laughing. Apparrently he thought it was funny. Dad did not and promptly put him to sleep with a right hook. Turns out there were no drying towers in Panama when Dad was with Group and the main chute was put away damp and rotted. Dad still has a scar on his thigh from the equipment bag. I searched for relevant threads but found only "Heavy Drop Malfunctions". Would welcome any shared experiencees from QP's past or present.

twistedsquid · 10-18-2012, 16:45

Heres a better pic

Astronomy · 10-18-2012, 19:02

I'm seeing a standard round T-10 canopy (based upon the photo and year) with blown gores (panels) that failed when the chute opened. I'm not sure exactly when the earliest MC1- steerable series was introduced, but I think it was also around in '64. On the other hand, I don't think anyone would bother shooting a photo of factory cut-outs on a malfunctioned MC1-B chute.

I also see a couple of small canopy tears; either those tears were a result of some sort of friction burn as the risers & suspension lines deployed or your dad got drug across the DZ after hitting the ground.

Probably the C-130 was going a little fast...increasing the force of opening shock on an older canopy...and a jumper laden with combat equipment.

Was your dad a big guy (weight wise)?

My $ .02

MtnGoat · 10-18-2012, 19:21

Hey that is always kool to get stuff like that.

I found my father's WWII ID card cleaning up some of his items after he died.

twistedsquid · 10-18-2012, 19:21

According to his jump log the parachute was indeed a T-10. He suggested the C-130's right hand door protecting the jumper from prop blast of the inboard motor was not fully deployed. My Dad was 5'10' and 215 lbs at the time of the jump. Perhaps the C-130 was at high speed. Dad says in Jumpmaster school its only one jumper per pass so maybe the pilots were expediting? Investigators found the chute rotted. He makes no mention of being dragged. Pic of jump log attached. Jump #21. Thanks for the response.

twistedsquid · 10-18-2012, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnGoat

Hey that is always kool to get stuff like that.

I found my father's WWII ID card cleaning up some of his items after he died.

Thanks. It's bittersweet. I've been receiving packages from Dad. He sent me his crests and SF statuette previously. We've been spending lots of time talking. An amazing man as all QP's are I'm quite sure.

Astronomy · 10-18-2012, 21:20

Quote:

Investigators found the chute rotted

That explains everything. I've seen old canopies ripped that way (by hand) to demonstrate that the fabric craps out. Not supposed to happen with proper Rigger inspection, but maybe things were different back then.

BTW: No wind deflector on either door on a C-130. On the C-141s (jets) of the time...yes.

Interesting memorabilia. Thanks for sharing your father's legacy.

twistedsquid · 10-18-2012, 21:35

Dad used the term "blinder" to refer to the "door" protecting the jumper from the prop blast on a C-130. The chute was tagged and showed only 5 jumps and the rigger passed it on as good without inspection. Not sure what ever happened to that individual. Dad will not comment. Thanks alot for your input.