Crashed the Heli yesterday

SlowWhite · 01-28-2008

Well after finally getting a new clutch put in I went out with Bobby Watts yesterday to get the final setup finished.

And the first Flight went real well, Bobby did the final tuning and did some light aerobatics with it just to check pitch's, and then landed and said filler up and give it a try.

So I filled it back up and then asked bobby if he'd put it through some menuvers just so I could see that nothing will happen, so I wouldn't worry when I went to do try. And in case something did happen hopefully he'd be able to recover better then I would.

So He takes it up, starts testing the waters with it and things are going great he even mentioned that he was really surprised at how nice this heli fly's and even commented about the performance compared to his stratus, then went into a large inverted loop and starting the downward part heading back into inverted (ie: nose pointing straight at the ground) he lost all control of the helicopter. It went into Fail safe, everything nuetraled out but being nose pointed straight down that does nothing. He hit throttle hold (As I've heard/ and now learned recently that every second you don't hit the Throttle hold is pretty much $100) And she piled in nose first straight into the ground from about 50-75 feet up.

After 10 minutes of trying to figure out what happened (including a new guy coming onto the field and starting his range check, which just so happened to be at the same time my heli went in) It looks to be the brand new Switch I bought went out. I didn't think anything of it when I bought it, was just a Hi-Tech switch $9 switch this was the 3rd flight with it. Will never make that mistake again. Yet another reason I normally only buy Futaba or JR stuff no off brand names.

Surprisingly enough the Canopy took the Brunt of the crash (kind of like how a car crimples up. same thing) My parts list was surprisingly low.

Most expensive parts are the canopy, New Blades, reciever, I doesn't even look like it bent the main shaft but I'm going to replace it anyways just to be safe. Good news is Bobby was flying and just for being who he is and who he flys for, will help me out.

I'll be upgrading things like I always do, might as well while I'm at it right. And hopefully I'll have it back up and running this weekend. I have a spare canopy and Skids (the red ones that were pictured in the other thread that I think are just ugly, but since it'll cost $250-300 just to get another painted canopy I'll probably just end up flying that for now) Unless anyone here knows how to paint and can give me some tips on how to and what set up to go with for the (fine painting). I can get a Gel coated one from Min Air dirt cheap, but I'd have to paint it myself.

Sorry I didn't take pictures, In hind sight I should have had Bobby sign the crashed canopy or blade (kind of like how Allan has the side skirt hanging in his garage from that rally car) But I threw all the junked parts out at the flying field.

User Name · 01-28-2008

But, thank god you're O.K. and you don't fit in this helicopter you have!

I want carnage pics! Put some G.I. Joe's on next time before you crash it.

**scheides** · 01-28-2008

that sucks man, at least someone else was at the wheel so you can't be too hard on yourself.

SlowWhite · 01-28-2008

I can take pictures of the totally disassembled heli with picts of the bent flybar that's wrapped around the head, the bent Center Plate that's bent, and the broken skid, but honestly that's about it. The canopy was still in 1 piece but cracked in like 500 spots, with paint chipped off, one of my blades stuck in the ground 3/4 of the way in and then broke off leaving only 1/4 left on the head (you couldn't get it out of the ground and was so close to being level with the ground anyways we just fixed it as if you were fixing a divot while playing golf.

I can't even blame Bobby, you should have seen the look on his face, he felt worste then I did, I felt compelled to make a point to keep telling him don't worry about it. (thought he was going to cry) But it didn't matter who was flying, him, me, someone else. If the switch was going to fail, there is no way of knowing, or being able to do anything about it, so why get upset.

Now if he crashed doing some crazy aerobatics and lost orientation and put it in then ya, but not over something like this.

I mean besides Heli crash's are awesome to see, if you want to look on the bright side of things!

**JET** · 01-28-2008

That sucks Brian. Painting really isn't that bad, even out of the spray can works quite well. I have an airbrush that I use on smaller stuff like that. Masking off sections is a bit tedious, but not bad. Just muster all your patience and try it.

SlowWhite · 01-28-2008

I was wondering if I should buy a small airbrush or not?

I ordered parts today, Bobby said he'll talk to Min Air tomorrow for me, and hopefully they'll have everything in stock so I can be up and flying by this weekend. I ordered more then is needed to get back up and flying, and I think the items I need to get back up and flying they should have in stock. But things like futaba servo gears etc, they probably don't carry, so I'll have to get them else where. Bobby also told me to ask if they had any painted canopies laying around, so I did. I'm going to call them tomorrow to make sure they got my order and to see if they have some painted canopies. If not it'll be off to the shop to get an airbrush and some paint.

And since my reciever and battery got crushed in the crash, obviously needed a new switch, and my current 8UH radio got knocked off the counter by my mother a few years back and cracked the case I went a head and bought a new Futaba 9CHP Super today with the help of someone who fly's for futaba ;-) Don't ask what I paid cause I can't tell you. The 2.4GHZ module will be out for it end of Feb early March at which time I'll be getting that also.

MustGoFaster · 01-28-2008

He's gone mod crazy the first chance he got! Too bad the switch screwed you over like that, but it sounds like your making the best of it.

**Kracka** · 01-28-2008

You have really bad luck with just about everything

SlowWhite · 01-29-2008

yep pretty much the story of my life. Only good thing about having bad luck is it's made me a really patient man. And I try to always look on the brightside of things.

Like I got a call from Chad yesterday (Kiley's real dad) telling how Jenny filed kidnapping charges against him yesterday. They had made a verbal agreement as to when he gets kiley. Which I'd known about, as I still talk to Chad and have been trying to help him get custody of Kiley. Although I feel sorry for him and told him time and time again you can't trust anything she says, and to always get it in writing. I just have to think man am I glad I'm out of that relationship.

**Kracka** · 01-29-2008

Holy shit...that chick is nuts. She needs to get a psychological evaluation.

SlowWhite · 01-29-2008

She has the nerve to call me and leave messages asking for favors, and "to get over myself and help her and kiley out".. She keeps wanting me to give her some of the members on here ther numbers.

She must have be having car problems a while back she asked for Enes number for a tow, then she called and asked for Steve Hills number saying she needed a new car, Then she asked for me to give her my friend Nates number cause she wants to sell the engagement and wedding rings. Which she has no idea how much they are worth because my mother was a jeweler and got everything at whole sale. Because he's owns a jewelry story in Fairbult.

I'm ya some of this would have been business related but you can't trust anything she says/does. And I'd hate to hear about other people having something happen to them.

And she wonders why I never call her back.

**Kracka** · 01-29-2008

You should just have her number blocked. It sounds to me like she has BPD (boarderline personality disorder) which is extremely serious. There isn't much you can do for her, but check out this forum for facts/answers/stories/support in order to heal yourself: http://www.bpdfamily.com/

This site was practically a life-saver for my friend who also has a psychotic ex.

**scheides** · 01-29-2008

Dude, have her number blocked. And don't give her any numbers, you're just opening up other people you know to her deceitful ways. If she was still your friend maybe you could commit to helping her out, but follow hughes' advice!

Oh, and quit screwing around with these toy heli's and get your damn car fixed!

SlowWhite · 01-29-2008

hahah I never answer the phone when she calls or return them, honestly it's out of fear. with all the Crap she's tried on me and on others I just don't want to risk anything.

Forget the car! waiste of money. Besides there isn't anyone to race in my town. I've seen 1 evo, and and STI and the rest are rich porsche owners who I honestly doubt would want to race anyways.

I'll stick to driving the 2005 BMW Z4 convertable.

Kevin 1G Drummer · 01-29-2008

Give her my number! I love the crazy bitches! Hahaha jk.

SlowWhite · 01-29-2008

YOU asked for it! hahah J/K

Well thought I'd post a picture of the new canopy and matching fins I ordered.

Miniature was out of canopies all together and I honestly really wanted a sweat paint job so didn't take much to twist my arm and get one. Bob Bice Tech director at Min Air sent me to Arizona Heli for custom painted canopies.

So here it is.
http://www.arizonaheli.com/images/Krause%202003.jpg

**JET** · 01-29-2008

Looks nice!

SlowWhite · 01-30-2008

The guy e-mailed me today and asked me what stickers I wanted on it, and if there was anything else.

So I'm basically getting the same as in the picture only because I really like the whole thing. But I'm also getting my name and ama number put on in white, just below the black tribal sticker in the orange and I'm also having him put on a "powered by YS" sticker on it by where the Miniature Aircraft Sticker is.

I did however leave the artistry to the artist saying all final decisions are up to him. As I really do like his work and he seems to have good taste. But did make a point to tell him my ideas. Hopefully the Fins will turn out nice as I forgot to bring them up, but with the 3D fin set there really isn't much material to work with. As it's full of wholes to keep the weight down.

And he also said these are custom painted so he said it would ship out Feb 22nd. Which should actually work well. I should hopefully have all the bugs worked out by then and I won't have to worry about the temptation of wanting to fly with it till I get comfortable flying again. And it'll be just in time for the Birmingham Alabama meet in March that I'm going to.

Matt D. · 01-31-2008

After having flown planes and knew a very good heli pilot I hate to hear when someone's plane or heli buys the farm. I luckily only had one close call when I lost an engine on a twin engine plane. Fix it up and do it better. If you ever make it to Minnesota for a fun fly or anything surely let me know so I can come watch.

SlowWhite · 01-31-2008

I plan to talk to Bobby about how he does it when he traves around the world flying. I heard him say he brings it as carry ons. and that if you take the head, and Tail boom off it'll fit. But not sure what he puts it in.

I'm thinking someone makes a traveling bag/case for it.

I'll be up there in Sept for sure for a Wedding might just bring it along.