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Vance Howard - 23 Jun 2007 21:00 GMT

Hi,
Had a crash today. Plane was totally destroyed. Only thing I can say is,
Double check your trims if you still use analog trim levers. When I was
starting my plane, the tx fell over and I didn't think to check to see if
the trims had gotten knock off their settings. Anyway, it made for an
exciting take off and subsequent wildly uncontrolled turn and dive
straight into the ground. Fortunately for me, I had the smarts to
quickly cut my throttle when I realized it was going in.

In as many pieces that plane went to, I was surprised that the propeller
did not break. I am going to send the rx in to Hitec for them to check out
before I use it again and I might have stripped some servo gears. The
engine itself appears to be in good condition, no dirt got into the carb
and the muffler did not break off. The engine mount broke right behind
where the engine mounts to it. It was my Hobbico Superstar. Was a good
flying plane until today. Pilot error for not checking the trims after the
tx fell over.

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MJKolodziej - 24 Jun 2007 05:22 GMT

> Hi,
> Had a crash today. Plane was totally destroyed. Only thing I can say is,
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> flying plane until today. Pilot error for not checking the trims after the
> tx fell over.

Sorry to hear Vance. Your right, we need to check EVERY time.
mk

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Poxy - 24 Jun 2007 13:08 GMT

> Hi,
> Had a crash today. Plane was totally destroyed. Only thing I can say
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> smarts to
> quickly cut my throttle when I realized it was going in.

That's tough - when I was learning, my instructor would test me by putting
the trims out of place and handing the radio back to me, forcing me to
stabilise and fly the plane while I worked out what trims needed to be
corrected - of course, this was always at a couple of mistakes worth of
altitude, and I was prepared as I knew that one or more trims were out. That
kind of practice comes in handy when maidening a newbie's plane, and helped
me get my extra down in one piece when I took off with the aileron servo
disconnected (made me glad the plane had some rudder coupling).

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Six_O'Clock_High - 25 Jun 2007 04:41 GMT

>> Hi,
>> Had a crash today. Plane was totally destroyed. Only thing I can say
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> helped me get my extra down in one piece when I took off with the aileron
> servo disconnected (made me glad the plane had some rudder coupling).

I had a student test me once. He cornered all the trims and handed me his
transmitter just as the plane reached the center of the runway on the way
out. He said "Here, you fly it". Of course it was his new hot shoulder
wing stick and had a great roll rate! What a blast that takeoff turned
into. He and his wife had great laughs at that one.

Jim Branaum
AMA 1428

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JJVB - 24 Jun 2007 13:10 GMT

> Hi,
> Had a crash today. Plane was totally destroyed. Only thing I can say is,
> Double check your trims if you still use analog trim levers. When I was

Sorry to hear you lost a plane. Something similar happened to me. I
was at a funfly and they had a Tx impound. I got my Tx to make a
flight and almost lost my Goldberg Cub. A couple of my analog trims
had been moved all the way to one side in the impound. Digital trims
take care of that problem.

John VB

> starting my plane, the tx fell over and I didn't think to check to see if
> the trims had gotten knock off their settings. Anyway, it made for an
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> flying plane until today. Pilot error for not checking the trims after the
> tx fell over.

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Ed Forsythe - 24 Jun 2007 17:44 GMT

Sorry about your crash but I have a pre-taxi check which will eliminate
results of forgetfulness. I call it B-SCAT;

B = Battery ( Have I checked my RX and TX batteries?)
S = Switches (Check all TX switches for proper position)
C = Controls (Check all surfaces for *proper* movement. Don't just wiggle
the sticks!).
A = Antenna (Fully extended. Make sure each segment is completely extended.)
T = Trim = Check trim positions Analog = look at trim levers, Digital =
Insure that the correct model is selected).

While you're at it you might as well develop a pre-home departure checklist
( ever arrived at the field and noticed your hands felt funny because the
were not holding a TX or you remembered the TX but forgot the wing! It *has*
happened. Oops left it at home ;-) and a field box checklist. Damn, may I
borrow your glow driver/prop wrench/fuel/etc., I forgot mine. :-))

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / June 2007

Crash!