Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / October 2003

Well it had to happen eventually. The law of gravitational attraction is as
relevant today as it ever was. You know the one - a large mass attracts a
smaller one. Compared to Mother Earth, my little Rappy didn't stand a
chance!

Ironically, my flying partner's heli had just been packed up for the day
with some problems in the drive train and I was having a little fly around.
I should have paid more attention when I removed the remote glo-start (the
earth lead had snapped off), but I didn't...there's a lesson to be learned
there (see later).

Anyway, flying along gently (I'm only just moving out of the hovering
stage), when the heli starts to get extra lift, presumably from a bit of
wind (I run a governor, so the head speed shouldn't vary too much). So I'm
trying to fly it back down, carefully, when without any warning, the engine
cuts out. I'm about 20 feet up and didn't get myself sorted in time to auto
properly (as if I know what I'm doing anyway!!), though I did manage to just
about cushion the landing a bit. Plus it came down more or less level on its
skids, though leaning back.

Net result: bent boom, snapped horizontal stabiliser (a spare promptly
provided from Pauls' toolbox), slightly bent boom brace (bent back into
shape), knackered blade (woodies) and snapped rear undercarriage leg. Not
too bad really.

The cause? Glow plug had worked loose and fallen out! Should have checked
when I took the remote lead off as this had been dangling and almost
certainly encouraged the plug to loosen a bit. A simple check would have
prevented this crash - I had already that afternoon been cheating gravity
with my wayward flying skills, so it's ironic that the crash occured through
a mechanical fault rather than pilot error as such.

Off to search the Internet for some bits now. Any suggestions for
replacement blades?

Tim