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View Full Version : Helicopters do not hover with out blades. lesson Learned.


shaun.kendall
12-18-2006, 08:26 AM
Whoa!! Got quite a scare today. It was the fourth and final flight for me today. Nothing drastic, just hovering. Man, it is getting a lot easier. The helicopter is flying much better since I have taken all the advice from here and other forums.
Anyways I was almost out of fuel and just hovering about 6 inches off the deck when both blades just flew off and away. Th ehelicopter dropped, thank you training gear, my heart raced, and I shut the heli down.
I walked over to the heli and discovered that the blade grips had come off the head. Has anyone heard of this happening before? I usually do a preflight before each day of flying, but have not noticed any trouble with the blade grips. Anyways, I think that the grip is stripped, have not really finished my inspection. I have ordered new blade grips and the bearing that I am missing. When I am putting it all back together, what should I do to ensure that this does not happen again. Thankfully, I was by my self and no one was around to get hurt. Those blades really got some good distance and their speed leaving the head was impressive to say the least. And the helicopter was low and hovering so there was no damage to it other than the blade grips going off.

BarracudaHockey
12-18-2006, 11:35 AM
Sounds alot like lack of locktite on the spindle bolts.

flyinfool
12-18-2006, 12:53 PM
That would be my first guess also.

shaun.kendall
12-18-2006, 11:23 PM
Well I will ensure that there is plenty of locktite on the bolt when I put it together again. I really do not want to see a repeat of this again. :WOW

BarracudaHockey
12-19-2006, 11:29 AM
You dont have to drown it, you dont want it getting into the bearings. Just a drop on each bolt and for a spindle, I'd let it cure over night before flying.

flyinfool
12-19-2006, 12:23 PM
Also be sure that the hole and the bolt are both free of oil.
It is common to get grease in the threads while pushing the spindle through the head.
Loctite will not stick to a greased surface.

BarracudaHockey
12-19-2006, 02:04 PM
Yes clean up the bolts with brake cleaner or alchohol, this applies to new ones, they are often coated to prevent corrosion.