Failed chute deployments

[flapjack]

I've heard stories where the chutes fail to deploy. What exactly is the cause of this?

 

[hotrod]

Can't speak for the pro guys but on my super comp car, I've had the safety pin left in and the end of the release cable shoved too far into the release loop. When you pulled the lever, it wouldn't pull the cable all of the way out.

 

[.]

Some cars use pneumatic systems, it could be a matter of a valve left closed or not enough pressure. I heard that many years ago that static electricity used to be a common cause.

 

[clwill]

Lots of reasons. In a pro car, it's really rare, because they use them so often. In a sportsman car, it can be from lack of testing of the setup, lack of use for ages, mistake in packing from lack of practice, or an error in setting up the air system (as mentioned)... Lots of possibilities. It's a mechanical thing, packed, maintained, setup by humans -- therefore, it's subject to a lot of issues and errors.

In Seattle, they made everyone with a chute pull it during tech (first time I've seen that). A good buddy of mine had his just sit there when he pulled the lever. It hadn't been opened in years, and the mold/mildew had basically settled in and frozen it. He bumped it a little, and poof, out it came. Of course at 170+ mph and with a lot of wind/bouncing/etc. it would've come out. But scared him half to death, and he had to repack it and do it again to prove it to the tech guy.

 

[flapjack]

Thanks everone for your answers.

The reason I started this thread is that, as far as I know, there was another incident of a parachute not opening and someone going into the nets (see the Kenny Buzdas thread). I did not want to hijack that thread with an inquiry as to why chutes fail to deploy.

Scary stuff!

 

[Smiley]

Speaking of Chutes..

Was it my imagination, or did it seem that many of the Pros were pulling the chutes on aborted runs in Denver, when they certainly could have only used the brakes to slow down. It some cases it seemed they came out when the car was going very slow.

I've never noticed it as much as I did this weekend on the qualifying show (haven't watched eliminations yet).

Are the automatic deployment setups back out?

 

[MM]

Speaking of Chutes..

Was it my imagination, or did it seem that many of the Pros were pulling the chutes on aborted runs in Denver, when they certainly could have only used the brakes to slow down. It some cases it seemed they came out when the car was going very slow.

I've never noticed it as much as I did this weekend on the qualifying show (haven't watched eliminations yet).

Are the automatic deployment setups back out?

it's so it kills the automatic shut-off device so it doesn't try to chuck the blower off it in the shutdown area

 

[Spanky]

i'd have to say way way too many of the chute failures are human error. we'll spend every dollar we make to make a car faster and would NEVER tolerate a speed part that was questionable or that we didn't think would work 100% of the time but WAY too often safety equipment is not looked at the same way

just kinda funny (actually not at all) how we look at and treat these cars at times... and really know excuse for it

edit: just a clarification... when i say they are human errors i'm not only taking about simply the action of pulling/pushing the levers. often it's preparation or even understanding of what it takes to stop one of these machines

 

[Taunsie]

Body configuration can play a role, in the early days of Funny Car I was Mickey Thompson's PR guy. I met up with the mustangs and each race. One evening in Bristol Danny Ongais got fed up with the chute not deploying due to the negative air at speed. Danny came up with a great idea, he simply tied a faily good sized Cresent wrench on the pilot chute line. Problem solved, the first few runs were interesting as a plume of sparks flew from the back of the car and the competitors grinned thinking something broke on the car. Unfortuatly for them all was ok. Everybody knew that if the Ford Cammer was injured, it was a major repair ahead due to the nature of the design. Another unrelated "trick" we employed a couple of time when we did not have an advantage was to poor a bit of trans fulid in the header. The thing would smoke like it was a dead player, then haul ass. Those were fun days,

 

[Toejam]

Lots of reasons. In a pro car, it's really rare, because they use them so often. In a sportsman car, it can be from lack of testing of the setup, lack of use for ages, mistake in packing from lack of practice, or an error in setting up the air system (as mentioned)... Lots of possibilities. It's a mechanical thing, packed, maintained, setup by humans -- therefore, it's subject to a lot of issues and errors.

In Seattle, they made everyone with a chute pull it during tech (first time I've seen that). A good buddy of mine had his just sit there when he pulled the lever. It hadn't been opened in years, and the mold/mildew had basically settled in and frozen it. He bumped it a little, and poof, out it came. Of course at 170+ mph and with a lot of wind/bouncing/etc. it would've come out. But scared him half to death, and he had to repack it and do it again to prove it to the tech guy.

Super comp cars rarely need one, even at 180 MPH they stop much faster than say a Alky FC or dragster because of the weight difference.