First RC Related ER Visit

[Black&Tan]

Had a banner weekend - no flying! Instead, I ended up in the ER.

All weekend it had been windy, 15-20mph winds. But the forecast for Monday looked promising. So Sunday afternoon, I started to program my upgraded Super Cub (Lipo, brushless, ailerons) into my Dx6i, and placed the radio on the desk while I reached down to disconnect the servo leads to the ailerons. As I unplugged the last servo wire, my radio fell off the desk, and either bumped into my arm or the chair, and engaged the engine at close to full throttle. Did I mention the motor was a 450 brushless with an APC electric prop? The angle and thinness of the blade makes for a perfect cutting surface!

Well, as I reached around to try and catch the falling radio before it hit the ground, the plane leaped forward and ran into my leg. Now I shifted around to grab the plane, letting the radio fall instead, but the damage had already been done. I had a deep laceration to my inner calf and severe bruising to my foot (thankfully, the propeller shredded my sock and missed the vein).

Four hours in the ER, and five stitches later, I was finally able to assess the damage. The plane looks okay (although I'm worried that now its tasted blood, it may want more!), and the only damage to the radio is the folding aerial. The plastic pin in the folding mechanism is broken, so I'll need to come up with an alternative method of joining the two together before I can fly again.

And wouldn't you know it, Monday was a perfect, sunny, low wind day!

On the bright side, I'm still hopelessly addicted. When the male nurse and doctor both separately expressed interest or prior experience with RC planes, I suggested they take a second look at electrics, maybe the Micro Champ or Super Cub. My wife just shakes her head....

[Old Fart]

I take it you didn't get the memo that "APC" stands for "Always Precision Cuts"

Yep - 12x8E @ 10,000 RPM will leave a mark

[cbatters]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

I take it you didn't get the memo that "APC" stands for "Always Precision Cuts"

Yep - 12x8E @ 10,000 RPM will leave a mark

Yikes! Nasty lesson to all.

Hope you get well soon.

Be safe !

Clint

[firemanbill]

Ouch! APC's do cut for sure. I had to patch up Champion R/C pilot Donatas Pauzuolis (google him) at SEFF when his big 3d bird ate into his leg. Got him patched up and loaded for a trip to the ER for staples and stitches.

It happens to everyone from beginners to World Champions.

[Old Fart]

Was several years ago. Learned my lessons:

1. On planes that the batteries need to go in and connect before the wings go on, put the prop on AFTERWARDS.

2. CC ESC's are a lot smarter than MSEE's

3. Deans arming plugs are your friend.

Hey Bill!

BTW - that AR9000 was a hit as a BD present. Left it in the baggie - put it in a roll of blue painters tape. BIL called me nasty names, as he thought I'd bought him a roll of tape...

[RCFlyer44]

You know I have been blasting Electrifly for the SS ESCs not being programable, but one thing I did like about them was the arming feature, before the throttle will come on you have to throttle all the way up, listen for the beep, throttle all the way back down and listen for the 3 beeps and then the throttle will actually work. I wish Tunigy Plush's had a similar feature for the very reason you are showing.

[Old Fart]

That's related to how I outsmarted myself with the CC45. I made the mistake of putting an RX switch on my 1/12 Corsair. Assembled it (with batteries as they're internal), ran it up - then switched the RX switch off. Ran the throttle back up to full, as I know that a CC ESC won't arm at full throttle. Went to hand the plane to by buddy to toss - thoughtfully flipped the RX switch back on, motor went to full throttle. My mistake.

Changed the RX switch to a Deans plug once my arme healed.

[cbatters]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

That's related to how I outsmarted myself with the CC45. I made the mistake of putting an RX switch on my 1/12 Corsair. Assembled it (with batteries as they're internal), ran it up - then switched the RX switch off. Ran the throttle back up to full, as I know that a CC ESC won't arm at full throttle. Went to hand the plane to by buddy to toss - thoughtfully flipped the RX switch back on, motor went to full throttle. My mistake.

Changed the RX switch to a Deans plug once my arme healed.

What is a Deans arming plug?



Clint

[Black&Tan]

My leg's still sore, but it did get me out of a day at work! The docs said not to get it wet for two days, and I've been trying to stay off it so the stitches don't pull.

Just chalk it up as one of the accidents that can happen and try to learn from this one. Maybe point the aircraft away from me while programming...

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by cbatters

What is a Deans arming plug?



Clint

http://www.maxxprod.com/mpi/mpi-21.html

Bottom of the page

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

BTW - that AR9000 was a hit as a BD present. Left it in the baggie - put it in a roll of blue painters tape. BIL called me nasty names, as he thought I'd bought him a roll of tape...

Nice! Glad it worked out.

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by Black&Tan

My leg's still sore, but it did get me out of a day at work! The docs said not to get it wet for two days, and I've been trying to stay off it so the stitches don't pull.

Just chalk it up as one of the accidents that can happen and try to learn from this one. Maybe point the aircraft away from me while programming...

maybe? No ALWAYS point the aircraft away from you and others while programming. Prop should be off while programming too.

[Black&Tan]

I've just visited the Castle Creations page and see they mention a "brake" feature on their ECS's. What exactly is that? I couldn't find a description of what the "brake" feature does, only that it's programmable.

[Black&Tan]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

Prop should be off while programming too.

I definitely missed that one! That will be SOP on all future projects....

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

Nice! Glad it worked out.

Thanks. Now he has NO excuse for getting his 50cc Mustang into the air.

[firemanbill]

The brake allows the prop to come to a complete stop when power is off and it's held there in place. It prevents free wheeling of the prop while power is off.

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by Black&Tan

I've just visited the Castle Creations page and see they mention a "brake" feature on their ECS's. What exactly is that? I couldn't find a description of what the "brake" feature does, only that it's programmable.

Stops the prop when the motor is at the bottom of throttle travel. I only program brake to on for my folding prop sailplanes.

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

Thanks. Now he has NO excuse for getting his 50cc Mustang into the air.

Cool! I used the proceeds to buy a AR 7010 for my new 1/4 scale Piper PA-12

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

Cool! I used the proceeds to buy a AR 7010 for my new 1/4 scale Piper PA-12

Only thing on my RX list right now is another AR600 or two. Keep building damn slope sailplanes!

[RCFlyer44]

Originally Posted by cbatters

What is a Deans arming plug?



Clint

amazon.com even sells these things now a days. I don't use deans for anything so have to change the ends on the Y but I plan on putting one of these on the new super cub and probably on my Sportster now too since I changed the ESC.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Arming.../dp/B001345MZK

[Black&Tan]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

The brake allows the prop to come to a complete stop when power is off and it's held there in place. It prevents free wheeling of the prop while power is off.

I see, so it's not like an "arming mechanism," preventing accidental propeller injuries.

I'll look into the Deans Arming Plugs and see how they would fit my setup. Are there any other electronics that would prevent accidental throttle acceleration?

[Old Fart]

FWIW, the Corsair is the only electric I have with an arming plug. It's design requires that I install and connect the batteries before installing the wing.

The other 30 or so electric planes I'm not concerned with, as I'm not doing any "assembly" after plugging the battery in (which I do right before flight)

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

I take it you didn't get the memo that "APC" stands for "Always Precision Cuts"

Yep - 12x8E @ 10,000 RPM will leave a mark

OK, I did not need to see that (excuse me for a moment while I go throw up).

Yeah. 10,000RPM X 12 X Pi = 333 slashes @ 376,991 Inches per minute occuring every second

Ouch.

Posted via Mobile Device

[Black&Tan]

Originally Posted by FlyWheel

Yeah. 10,000RPM X 12 X Pi = 333 slashes @ 376,991 Inches per minute occuring every second

Ouch.

...and if the plane has stopped forward momentum, that's 333 slashes per second...in one place.

After seeing the stats, I'm surprised I got off so lucky.

[texasclouds]

aw man, did you have to post a picture? yikes!