Un-Inflated Drogue; Entanglement With Drogue; Entanglement With Drogue Bridle; Non Collapsed Drogue - Sigma TANDEM VECTOR Owner's Manual

SIGMA TANDEM SYSTEM OWNER'S MANUAL
ANALYSIS: It is not necessary to pull either the drogue release handle or the breakaway handle first. In this situation,
the reserve ripcord should be pulled promptly, before your velocity builds up. The longer you wait, the greater the
reserve opening shock.
This malfunction can usually be avoided by packing the drogue correctly and by practicing drogue deployment on
the ground.
C. Un-inflated drogue
PROBLEM: Drogue has been deployed and is partially or completely uninflated.
REACTION: If the drogue does not inflate within six to eight seconds, pull either one of the drogue release handles to
initiate main canopy deployment.
ANALYSIS: An uninflated drogue has enough drag to deploy the main canopy although it will take longer than
normal to do so. If you wait longer, your velocity will increase. Higher velocities may produce a higher opening
shock.
D. Entanglement with drogue:(#4/3-117)
PROBLEM: The drogue canopy becomes entangled with you, your student or your gear, and does NOT inflate.
REACTION: Spend only a few seconds trying to clear the entangled drogue canopy before pulling the reserve ripcord.
ANALYSIS: In this situation, your velocity will increase to 170 mph in about 18 seconds. The longer you wait to deploy
the reserve, the higher the reserve opening shock will be.
E. Entanglement with drogue bridle:
(#4/3-118)
PROBLEM: The drogue bridle becomes entangled with the jumpers or their gear, and the drogue is fully inflated.
REACTION: If you suspect that the drogue bridle is entangled with either person or the gear, do NOT pull the drogue
release handle. Instead, deploy the reserve by pulling the reserve ripcord to full extension.
ANALYSIS: Velocity will not exceed approximately 120 mph, giving the Tandem Instructor additional time to analyze
and correct the problem. The force of the inflated drogue may or may not clear the entanglement.
F. Non collapsed drogue:
PROBLEM: You pull the drogue handle, but drogue does not collapse. The main canopy will probably open very hard.
REACTION: Ascertain whether the main canopy has been damaged by opening shock. If it has, decide whether is it
controllable and safe to land.
ANALYSIS: If the drogue is still attached and trailing behind the canopy (it will still be inflated), there is probably
minimal damage to the top of the canopy. A fully inflated drogue is not a problem, it just adds extra drag, slowing
your forward speed.
Page 4:X Section 4: Malfunctions & Emergencies • Chapter 1 - Reserve Procedures 11301 - 00.00.0000