When good times go bad.

[OzarkCopterBum]

I was out flying in a private field yesterday and the Evo 50 was dialed in. Just installed a GV1 and removed the weights from the paddles and had tested that and was really happy with performance.

Figured I'd flip it a few times and it was really quick and held altitude. So I refueled flew around a bit and was about 40 feet out and 50 feet up I attempted another one.

This time through poor collective management, it kind of stalled upside down and rolled over towards me. Next thing I know its 20 feet out and 20 feet up and heading directly at me and all I can see is rotor spinning at 1850. I guess self preservation kicked in at this point and I ducked and ran forward towards the heli, I hit throttle hold but I don't know whether it was accidental or instinct. I guess it missed me by 2 or 3 feet and landed directly in the back of my pickup that I was using as a pit bench. It passed through airspace my head had occupied only moments ago.
I have one of those figerglass covers and it was open at a 45d angle. It missed that but the blades struck right above the tail light and also hit my plywood field box and left about a 3/8 inch deep gash in that.

Damage to the heli was both frame sides, skids, hyper head, header tank, blades and the usual spindles and boom. The impact was so loud that my neighbor from 300yds away came out to see what happened. Thats nothing compared to the damage had it actually hit me.

I was AMAZED at how fast it all happened. It closed the gap from what I felt was a safe distance, to whizzing over my head as I was ducking in the blink of an eye.

I'm damn lucky not to be posting this from the hospital.

Be safe guys!

[PcKSnipE]

holy crap....lucky bastard, that seriosly could have been extremely dangerous wounds, good to see you alright though

[trace]

Dang Marshall,

Glad your okay, but I have got to say.....WHERE's THE VIDEO??? lol

[Windbreaker]

Running forward wasn't a bad idea as it would force the heli to overshoot you. But if the heli descended faster than expected it might have struck you.

Running to the side would have been better, especially since it was headed straight toward you.

BTW: ever notice how these things seem to head straight toward the pilot? Of the 360 possible degrees of direction it could head, it HAS to find the one angle that will put the guy holding the transmitter in jeopardy. Must be some sort of homing instinct. :)

Dean.

[DebianDog]

Having seen some bad accidents and pictures or other "mental errors" I have no issues with hitting throttle hold and driving her to the ground. Or just driving it to the ground if I go "confused".

Remember: You can buy a new helicopter not a new face. :shock:

[Windbreaker]

Having seen some bad accidents and pictures or other "mental errors" I have no issues with hitting throttle hold and driving her to the ground. Or just driving it to the ground if I go "confused".

Remember: You can buy a new helicopter not a new face. :shock:

Good point.

Sounds similar to those stories of air show pilots staying with their damaged aircraft as long as possible to make sure it doesn't hit spectators or nearby properties. They then punch out at the very last second.

Or the way NASA would destroy rockets as soon as they start to stray off the intended flight path.

Dean.

[DebianDog]

There is a guy at my field that has 70 stitches across his back because he did not want to crash his new Raptor 90. I try and remember that.

[tz250w]

Glad to hear you're okay.

What scares me most is when a guy at the field holding the TX starts running and the heli is headed for me! :shock:

[Skiddz]

Remember: You can buy a new helicopter not a new face. :shock:

Tell that to Joan and Melissa Rivers. :)

I do like your "bailout" plan tho.

[Ginvent]

Remember: You can buy a new helicopter not a new face. :shock:

I pretty sure MJ bought several new faces:confused:

[WillJames]

Tell that to Joan and Melissa Rivers. :)

I do like your "bailout" plan tho.

HAHAHAHA Now that is funny, THeir faces are so tight you could bounce a quarter off them. :shock:

[Skiddz]

What sucks is Melissa was kinda sorta hot-ugly before the knife.. Now it's just... :puke

[sleddog7]

Melissa Rivers is Steven Tyler's sister

[gencollon]

Glad you didn't get hurt, and sorry about the truck. But I always say... fly it all the way into the ground. Way too often I see people who realize they are about to crash close their eyes, and look away. Come on, any altitude left could be enough to save the heli, fly it all the way into the ground. And if you are in trouble, and the heli is coming at you, either full + or - pitch will change the heli's direction. I guarentee it takes less time to jam the left stick than it does to start running out of the way.

[iher]

If you are going down ..the least you can do is enjoy the trip!
If you know you are rebuilding your heli next week, at least make a point, brake a record and see how high it will bounce of the ground!

[don_87]

Kinda the same thing happened to me, lifted off.......the heli got about 6 feet in the air.........it did a 180 and came straight at me.........I had no control whatsoever.......I hit the dirt, heli flew over my head and crashed.
Switched to the DX7 after that.

[W8QZ]

Sounds like you guys have earned a free 'Calvin' tee-shirt (the one where the heli's chasing him!)

[wlfk]

I'd always fly all the way to the ground - but with throttle hold. Far better than attempting an impossible save.

K