Above: Photo by Erin Orwig.

In the loading area, ground crew noticed that two rings of this jumper’s 3-ring assembly had flipped through the large ring. Although this error—which usually occurs during packing—is more common on larger 3-ring assemblies and on tandem rigs, it can also happen with type-17 risers and their smaller rings.

Jumping a 3-ring system configured this way is extremely hazardous. Not only might it prevent the ability to cut away, it also drastically increases the chance that the riser will release on that side during opening or when under load due to the high forces causing failure of the fabric 3-ring-retainer loop or even the large ring itself.  One manufacturer noted that they had seen a 3-ring system “explode” on opening when configured this way.

A gear check prior to donning the rig would have caught this error. The biggest enemy in this sport is complacency. No one is invulnerable. Check yourself. Check each other. And if you see something, say something.