FUNCTION PREPARATION FOR USE It is impossible for an aircrewman to select the altitude at which an emergency may occur. By using the automatic ripcord release, you can bring the aircrewman down to a safe altitude before the parachute opens. When an aircrewman makes an emergency ejection at an altitude above that for which the ripcord release is set to open the parachute, the following functions take place: 1. The arming pin is pulled. This pin locks the ripcord release firing mechanism while installed. When the arming pin is withdrawn, the assembly fires at or below the preset altitude of the ripcord release. 2. The sear and the aneroid mechanism lock the ripcord release. 3. As the aircrewman free-falls, increasing air pressure causes the aneroid to contract. 4. As the operating altitude is reached, the aneroid contracts enough to remove the sear from the firing hammer lock. 5. The hammer’s firing pin strikes the car- tridge. 6. The time-delay cartridge fires (time de- pending on the type of cartridge used) after the hammer strikes. 7. The piston is forced forward in the barrel, pulling the power cable, which is attached to the parachute locking pins. (The power cable travels 3.75 inches.) 8. The locking pins are pulled, and the normal parachute opening sequence begins. When an aircrewman bails out below the operating altitude of the automatic parachute ripcord release, the hammer releases as soon as the arming pin is pulled, and the following functions take place: 1. The hammer’s firing pin strikes the car- tridge. 2. The time-delay cartridge fires (time de- pending on the type of cartridge used) after the hammer strikes. 3. The piston is forced forward in the barrel, pulling the power cable, which is attached to the parachute locking pins. 4. The locking pins are pulled, and the normal parachute opening sequence begins. When you receive an automatic parachute ripcord release from supply, there are some preparations for you to make before placing it into service. Upon removal of the ripcord release from the shipping carton, the exterior parts of the unit must be inspected for damage during shipping and storage. An inspection should be made for corrosion, dirt, dents, and cracks. If any damage or discrepancy is found, a quality deficiency report must be submitted, and a tag must be affixed to the ripcord release stating that it is not to be used. Remove this tag only after correction has been made. Fired ripcord release assemblies must not be reused. All Model 7000 automatic parachute ripcord release assemblies that fail any inspection points must have a tag affixed stating the nature of the defects. NOTE: Refer to NAVAIR 11-100-1.1 for the cartridge service life/total life. The cartridge service life must not expire prior to the next scheduled repack of the parachute assembly. WARNING YOU SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN HANDLING AUTO- MATIC RIPCORD RELEASE AS- SEMBLIES AFTER THE CARTRIDGE HAS BEEN INSERTED IN THE BAR- REL. DO NOT ALLOW EITHER END OF THE COVER ASSEMBLY TO BE POINTED TOWARD YOUR FACE AS HIGH VELOCITY FLAME AND SMOKE MAY BE PRODUCED IF THE CARTRIDGE GOES OFF. ANOTHER REASON FOR EXTREME CAUTION IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PIS- TON OF THE RIPCORD RELEASE MAY BECOME A PROJECTILE IF THE CARTRIDGE ACCIDENTALLY FIRES. An automatic ripcord release in service must be inspected each time its parachute assembly is repacked. You must pay particular attention to detail when working on a automatic ripcord release. The importance of careful work must be impressed upon personnel actually performing the work, as well as those assigned to collateral duty 2-2