dgjessing

Today I was happily zipping around the local park with my newest plane (this one: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71890 ) when all of a sudden it went into a violent series of unintended snap rolls, hit the ground, and cartwheeled to a stop. The postmortem examination revealed that the motor had come loose from the motor mount - only one loose screw was still in place, and the motor was able to pivot off in crazy angles. (Already repaired).

A couple months ago this plane: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70922 lost it's horizontal stabilizer in flight due to failed hot-glue-to-packing tape joints. (Repaired, many flights since then.)

Also this summer, this plane: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70618 lost rudder control due to the control horn coming loose. No crash, but it could have been worse.

The thing is, that all these potential problems probably would have been apparent had I taken the time to closely examine the plane(s) prior to flight. I've learned my lesson (finally ).

Just thought I'd throw that out there .

Don Sims

Only took you three times? I'm still learning that lesson...

DavidR8

I had lesson three on Monday...rudder stab came loose... straight in... not pretty...

dahawk

Alot of the smaller arfs come with small easy connectors these days. After a few mishaps , I now give a tug to check for looseness as part of my pre-flight. I've also started applying a drop of locktite ( red bottle, not blue ) to these connectors. Last incident had my T-33 sleeping overnight perched on top of a 50 ft. tree. LOL Upon inspection, sure enough, one of the control rods for the aileron had come loose sending the plane into a non-recoverable right hand turn.

Rolling Thunder

I think everybody in our unclub has done the reversed ailerons on their radios at least once. You do it once its a "oops I hope no one saw that moment". You do it twice & its a ...........well you know

kyleservicetech

Yeah
I'm not a real big fan of those connectors where you put a right angle bend in a piece of music wire, place the wire through the servo arm, and then snap that piece of plastic to keep the wire in place.

Several of those plastic thingys were found loose in one of my models. Quick fix was a drop or three of CA at the wire/plastic snap on area.

Pilot Error

My UMX Carbon Cub had it's rudder come unhinged partially on a landing, and I lost the ability to ground steer it. Seems a hard landing lets the tail wheel pull the hinge out of the stab where it is attached to the rudder. Like a lever opening a soda bottle. A little foam safe CA remedied the problem...Test flight in an hour or so, soon as the sun comes up...

dahawk

One thing that's cool about the new DX9 is that is has a programmable pre-flight checklist including some audible reminders and alarms. EG: Turn TX on with throttle above 0 and it will warn you. Switch settings can be programmed for audible's such as flap settings.

Pilot Error

That's funny you mention the DX9...I bought a 2.4Ghz 7C Futaba and a blank (No crystal) T4YF for a buddy box to teach my son on, upon returning to the hobby like 4 years ago...Then acquired a 2.4 DX6 and now recently a Heli 2.4 DX7 through used plane purchases, along with a 72Mhz SX600 JR radio...Now I'm like, Hmmmmmm....I wonder if I can trade all my radios for a new DX9 lol!

dahawk

I think Spektrum nailed the price point for the DX9. I'm moving everything over from the Futaba 6EX(2) and will sell them and all my Fasst rx's once I complete the conversion process. The 9 has capability I didn't know existed cause I was very limited on the 6EX. For DX6-DX8 owner, there's probably not much that they are not already familiar with. Impressive radio.

Back to pre-flight. It has a lot of programmable reminders for gasser pilots especially.

waytooslow

you will have to show me how you programmed the preflight stuff

Wildflyer

I worked on a PT-19 until about 1:00 am, then next morning I went flying.
But like a dummy I figured I had everything setup fine.
About 50 feet before the end of the flight, the control arm on the elevator servo came off.
Apparently I was too tired to remember to put the screw in the servo.
If only I had done a preflight.

tiloldar

I hate when non-rc people refer to these as toys.
They are serious machines spinning props at high
rpm.
A preflight check would have shown a loose motor
mount screw and avoided this.
The picture is from 24 hours later. It laid open, so
I probably should have had stitches.
Unfortunately I was too busy with peroxide, triple antibiotic
ointment and 4x4 pads to get a picture of it last night!
Tilo

Tepid Pilot

I like to do thorough "pre-flight" checks when I get home from a successful day of flying. That way I know I'm good to go next time out.

I always perform a range check each day with every airplane I bring to fly.

TP
AMA 59376

birdDog

About those little clevises (clevii?) or whatever you want to call them.


I always put a little piece of heat shrink tubing on them. You can also add a drop of CA after shrinking and never have to think about it again.

solentlife

I hate to admit how many times I've done it .... even with pre-flight check.

I now stand behind model to check ailerons ! I have habit of in front of to check rudder alignment ... then of course reversed ailerons look OK ... but go behind and you see they're wrong.

Nigel