Some good news

On Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 12:28:50 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
And I'm disappointed that there's been no narrative of everything
recalled from the decision to leave the aircraft until feet were
safely on the ground.* Any time someone experiencing such an
emergency can pass on all the thoughts, fears, worries,procedures,
successes and failures to the rest of us, it can only improve the
prospects of success for the rest of us.



On Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 12:28:50 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
And I'm disappointed that there's been no narrative of everything
recalled from the decision to leave the aircraft until feet were
safely on the ground.* Any time someone experiencing such an
emergency can pass on all the thoughts, fears, worries,procedures,
successes and failures to the rest of us, it can only improve the
prospects of success for the rest of us.



On a personal note, I used to unbuckle my parachute before getting
out of the glider because it's easier physically.* About a year ago
I decided that it would be better to always leave the glider with
the 'chute on to avoid unbuckling out of habit before an emergency
exit.* Since then, I've been refining my method for getting out and
it's much easier now.* I realize that g-loading can have quite an
impact on exit, either positive or negative.




On 10/23/2015 11:04 PM, Ramy wrote:



I second that. It is much more helpful to be able to discuss an accident/incident with those directly involved vs having to speculate, although I maintain that the latter is still better than not discussing at all.

Ramy





--

Dan, 5J

Sorry to disappoint Dan...
I have done a 5(ish) page writeup on the whole event, but do not quite feel comfortable posting it to RAS or in Soaring magazine at the moment, as we haven't fully grasped the weather and all that went into the various events that occurred, and i haven't solidified my personal conclusions on my decisions yet. If i left the parachute ride out of it, my apologies, it was not my intent.

On the parachute question, I make it a point to not unbuckle my harness until standing outside the glider, as the muscle memory issue pointed about above was made to me several years back while at Caesar Creek.

As far as the actual bailout process. while in the spiral, i opened the canopy, crouched in my seat, placed my hand on the D-ring, jumped, arched my back, and pulled the ring (about a 3-second sequence in all from when i was crouched. As mentioned and debated previously, once the opening shock hit me, i had difficulty pulling on the left risers, but was able to reach and pull down on the right rear riser of the parachute to steer myself closer to Rt-16 on the descent. Being unable to turn left made this more of a sequencing thing, where i would turn faster when facing into the wind, then relax the pressure when going in the correct direction. As i got down to ~100ft over the trees, i prepared for impact by releasing the risers and covering my face with my forearms, putting my legs together, and bending my knees. The "impact" never came, so from then on out i was just faced with the dilemma of safely hanging 30 feet over the ground and trying not to cause an injury in getting myself down.

Chris

Thanks, Chris.

That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for! I'll wait
patiently for the full story when you're ready to release it.

One question: You mentioned crouching in the cockpit immediately prior
to jumping. I don't know how the seating is in an HP, but in my LAK,
I'm sitting too low to get into a crouch. I've found that, by putting
my upper arms (just above the elbows) on the canopy rails, bringing one
foot way back, and bracing my back against the seat back, I can raise my
body enough that I can get the other leg over the canopy rail. Then I
can use that leg to assist in rolling over the side. Note: I'm 67
years old.

Dan

On 10/24/2015 4:56 PM, Christopher Giacomo wrote:
On Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 12:28:50 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
And I'm disappointed that there's been no narrative of everything
recalled from the decision to leave the aircraft until feet were
safely on the ground. Any time someone experiencing such an
emergency can pass on all the thoughts, fears, worries,procedures,
successes and failures to the rest of us, it can only improve the
prospects of success for the rest of us.


On Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 12:28:50 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
And I'm disappointed that there's been no narrative of everything
recalled from the decision to leave the aircraft until feet were
safely on the ground. Any time someone experiencing such an
emergency can pass on all the thoughts, fears, worries,procedures,
successes and failures to the rest of us, it can only improve the
prospects of success for the rest of us.



On a personal note, I used to unbuckle my parachute before getting
out of the glider because it's easier physically. About a year ago
I decided that it would be better to always leave the glider with
the 'chute on to avoid unbuckling out of habit before an emergency
exit. Since then, I've been refining my method for getting out and
it's much easier now. I realize that g-loading can have quite an
impact on exit, either positive or negative.




On 10/23/2015 11:04 PM, Ramy wrote:



I second that. It is much more helpful to be able to discuss an accident/incident with those directly involved vs having to speculate, although I maintain that the latter is still better than not discussing at all.

Ramy





--

Dan, 5J
Sorry to disappoint Dan...
I have done a 5(ish) page writeup on the whole event, but do not quite feel comfortable posting it to RAS or in Soaring magazine at the moment, as we haven't fully grasped the weather and all that went into the various events that occurred, and i haven't solidified my personal conclusions on my decisions yet. If i left the parachute ride out of it, my apologies, it was not my intent.

On the parachute question, I make it a point to not unbuckle my harness until standing outside the glider, as the muscle memory issue pointed about above was made to me several years back while at Caesar Creek.

As far as the actual bailout process. while in the spiral, i opened the canopy, crouched in my seat, placed my hand on the D-ring, jumped, arched my back, and pulled the ring (about a 3-second sequence in all from when i was crouched. As mentioned and debated previously, once the opening shock hit me, i had difficulty pulling on the left risers, but was able to reach and pull down on the right rear riser of the parachute to steer myself closer to Rt-16 on the descent. Being unable to turn left made this more of a sequencing thing, where i would turn faster when facing into the wind, then relax the pressure when going in the correct direction. As i got down to ~100ft over the trees, i prepared for impact by releasing the risers and covering my face with my forearms, putting my legs together, and bending my knees. The "impact" never came, so from then on out i was just faced with the dilemma of safely hanging 30 feet over the ground and trying not to cause an injury in getting myself down.

Chris

--
Dan, 5J

Dan,
I crouched once the canopy was already open and I was breathing cloud. The slow-motion would have looked like me standing up in my seat and jumping while pulling the cord. To get that position, I just kinda hoisted myself up and jumped.

(actually the slow-motion would have looked like a polar bear in a snowstorm on a UHF black and white TV with no signal...but that is neither here nor there)

Chris



On Sunday, October 25, 2015 at 10:06:53 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
Thanks, Chris.



That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for!* I'll wait
patiently for the full story when you're ready to release it.



One question:* You mentioned crouching in the cockpit immediately
prior to jumping.* I don't know how the seating is in an HP, but in
my LAK, I'm sitting too low to get into a crouch.* I've found that,
by putting my upper arms (just above the elbows) on the canopy
rails, bringing one foot way back, and bracing my back against the
seat back, I can raise my body enough that I can get the other leg
over the canopy rail.* Then I can use that leg to assist in rolling
over the side.* Note:* I'm 67 years old.



Dan

:-D

On 10/26/2015 12:27 PM, Christopher Giacomo wrote:
Dan,
I crouched once the canopy was already open and I was breathing cloud. The slow-motion would have looked like me standing up in my seat and jumping while pulling the cord. To get that position, I just kinda hoisted myself up and jumped.

(actually the slow-motion would have looked like a polar bear in a snowstorm on a UHF black and white TV with no signal...but that is neither here nor there)

Chris



On Sunday, October 25, 2015 at 10:06:53 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
Thanks, Chris.



That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for! I'll wait
patiently for the full story when you're ready to release it.



One question: You mentioned crouching in the cockpit immediately
prior to jumping. I don't know how the seating is in an HP, but in
my LAK, I'm sitting too low to get into a crouch. I've found that,
by putting my upper arms (just above the elbows) on the canopy
rails, bringing one foot way back, and bracing my back against the
seat back, I can raise my body enough that I can get the other leg
over the canopy rail. Then I can use that leg to assist in rolling
over the side. Note: I'm 67 years old.



Dan



--
Dan, 5J

The below is what i received from Bulter Parachute regarding tightening the leg straps after sitting in the cockpit.

Hello Jonathan,

It's always nice to hear from customers who take their emergency equipment serious enough to ask questions. It comes down to personal preference. Our Owner's Manual states: Tighten the leg straps until they are snug while standing erect... This adjustment will feel slightly looser after you sit in your aircraft; if desired, you may further tighten the leg straps after you are seated." Both methods will produce a fit that will be fine should you have to bailout. My personal preference is to snug the straps a little tighter after I am seat in the aircraft. A harness that is slightly tighter has no negative effects and will ensure that your harness is not too loose.. You will not fall out of a harness that is too loose, but one that is drastically too loose may cause the chest strap to contact the neck or chin on deployment. This can cause injury. You don't have to snug the straps to the point of discomfort or cutting off blood supply; just slightly tighter is fine and ensures your harness will be snug on deployment. Hope this helps.