Did faulty BP/Wing set up kill this diver ? (did wingnuts pop off ?)

[scubafanatic]

Per this accident thread:

Australian diver missing in Phillipines...

It sounds like maybe the wingnuts got loose/popped off and the wing separated.

Does everyone carefully/regularly check this gear item ? (those who use this configuration)

(personally, I use nylon locknuts with my wingnuts to prevent them from ever working loose)

 

[Caveeagle]

Most of the time I separate my wing and backPlate after a dive. On some occasions, I leave them together in my truck bed and fill them there, but I always double check the wing nuts.

I also take note of status when braking down my gear. I think maybe once, I found one nut managed to become loose during the dive. I now use a flat washer and lock washers, but many do not.

I will mention, that my diving is nearly all fresh water Springs with no surge or swells at the surface. I can imagine how that might shift things around a bit.

 

[scubafanatic]

I took some 'tech' classes many years ago, and there was no mention, that I can recall, of using locknuts to prevent the wing nuts from spinning themselves loose with the passage of time, but it just seemed like a wise idea, so I do use them because it just makes sense to me.

As a reference point, I'm pretty much a 100% open ocean diver, with no practical 'hard bottom'.

 

[northernone]

At that level of diving I'd hope catastrophic wing failure alone doesn't cascade into a fatal situation. (add buddy separation, lack of easily deployable redundant buoyancy and some environmental factors?).

I've had a buddy remove my nuts without warning mid dive in a controlled test for this failure. It's pretty hairy but can/should be manageable.

I quite like locking nylon wingnuts checked regularly for peace of mind (replaced when worn out).

Cameron

 

[ams511]

There is not enough information in that news article to know what happened. You are talking about a trimix class so I would assume the diver is attaching the bp/w to the tanks before the dive. I don't see how both nuts could work loose, there has to be more to the story.

 

[KenGordon]

I find wingnuts are always getting loose. Especially the top one.

 

[Compressor]

Hard to tell.
I used stainless steel lock washers on my BP/W but thought to change them to nylon wingnuts. But them I have to carry a wrench to my kit to test prior to dive. Not a problem except when travelling overseas, it's another piece to take on.

 

[divad]

[QUOTE="northernone, post: 8286762, member: 462741
I've had a buddy remove my nuts without warning mid dive in a controlled test for this failure.
[/QUOTE]

How is this possible?
Please explain the procedure.

 

[rongoodman]

I notice the wing nuts loosening from time to time, but I can always feel the tank shifting long before the nut actually falls off. For the wing to separate from the back plate, the tanks would have to have completely fallen off. It doesn't seem likely.

 

[Wookie]

I'm with Ken Gordan. I find my wing nuts loose all of the time, and tighten them often. But I think this is poor reporting, I heard (rumor control only) that he was sidemount.