Collapsed chute?

[tonyray]

I found this pic on powerchutes.com, along with a brief notation that the pic was taken just before the chute re-inflated.
Forgive my ignorance, but I thought it was nearly impossible for a fully inflated chute at altitude to collapse, even partially. What could possibly have caused this? There was no explanation with the pic.

[Bruce Brown]

That picture is proof that those who say a chute can't collapse in flight are wrong.

The pilot in that photo, Richard Kimbrell, was killed in an unrelated accident flying in his PPC not too long after that photo was taken. He was a very well known pilot on the (now) Yahoo list.

There are a number of things that can cause a chute to collapse in flight including turbulence, improper rigging, pulling too much line, etc. It is also possible to get off the ground with a chute that has not fully inflated properly; and that too can cause a chute to collapse. A line-over can also keep a chute from properly inflating on the ground and can lead to problems in the air. A chute with too little wing loading can also be prone to collapse.

The good news is that the chutes that were made when that photo were taken didn't have cell stiffeners like they do today. Those really help a chute get inflated properly on the ground.

I can't specifically remember the details about the reason for the collapse in that photo it has been so long ago but there was speculation as to why it did happen. Q or George would probably remember if they read this thread.

[mignazito]

Actually ANY chute can collapse in flight. I have even witnessed a chute collapse of a 500 sf late model square chute in level flight. This was at a flyin about 2 or 3 years ago. It was one of those hot dead calm days. There were many PPCs flying willy nilly all over the place like you often see at big flyins. This guys chute collapsed at about 50 ft agl. I began to reinflate, but did not fully inflate before he struck the ground. The pilot suffered a slight compression fracture of the spine.

I suspect that the chute caught turbulence from one of the other PPCs flying nearby.

ASTM for Sport Pilot requires a flight test with a partial collapse and reinflation as well as a similar test on the ground. PPCs chutes are supposed to reinflate automatically with no pilot input.

Flying along at low altitude has other risks, chute collapse from turbulence being one of them. A PPC at our airport had a partial collapse from the wake of a corporate jet a couple of years ago. Another "low flyer" recently hit and cut a power line about 12 miles from the airport with his PPC. This guy was one of those "no training" required advocates and was not based at our airport.

[wheelharp1]

The pilot in that photo, Richard Kimbrell, was killed in an unrelated accident flying in his PPC not too long after that photo was taken.


What kind of accident did kill him?

[Incarcerated]

Mignazito,

I am feeling a little cheeky today. Please do not be offended that I ask you to unbutton your cardigan, cease filling your pipe, and place your copy of whatever Russian classic novel you are currently reading next to the fireplace, which I am sure is lit even in the throws of an August heat wave.

This is the second time that you have mentioned the ASTM(s) in one of your posts. I was especially intrigued by your explanation of the weight and balance sheet. It is likely that within the next 363 days there will be many looking the finish the Sport Pilot and register their two place machines legally. Is it your contention that these people refer to the ASTM(s) and act as "test pilots" purposely placing themeselves and those on the ground at risk? Or is there a separation in the ASTM(s) between E-SLA(s) and AB-SLA(s) pre SP implementation and the manufacturer's responsibilities Post SLA/SP implementation?

[BUBBLES]

Any chute can collapse, even intentionally. Pulling on one steering line too far will cause one side of the chute to roll under. For example, if you're entering a spin, and want it tighter, such as to make the craft enter a roll (yeah it can be done), you pull that side's line in until that side of the wing tucks under, then release gradually. So it's not entirely impossible for the guy's chute to collapse but improbable if he wasn't doing something of that sort or had a chute problem.

[ZipItyDoDa]

There are three incidents in the database where a PPC is in a gradual turn and has a partial chute collapse. (Usually about 1/3)
Plus I know of another that one of our fliers had in his machine, under the same circumstances.

So I'm guessing that there are rare circumstances that will affect a chute. It would just be great to know what they are, so we can all avoid them! (If thats possible.) :confused:
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