Well... first Hurri crash...

[kkwait]

Hi,

I crashed my H550 yesterday. Here are some pics...
Ready to go :

http://kkwait.free.fr/hurricane/avantcrash.jpg

And then, less than 10 minutes later :

http://kkwait.free.fr/hurricane/aprescrash.jpg

I was flying pretty gently, a little loop, a little roll and then, while bringing it back to me in a right turn, it just didn't want to execute my orders. It was not further than I usually fly it...
I really don't know what happens and the e-logger only shows that the motor stopped.
I'll do a range test with the DX7 again but... :roll: .

It crashed on the landing gear, so the damage is pretty limited considering the speed of the impact :
tail boom, tail support, tail fin, canopy, main shaft, spindle shaft, tail shaft (I guess), main grip, flybar, landing gear, bottom left side of the frame.

No damage to servos, ESC, motor or else, and both tail and main blades (Radix 92mm and MAH CF) are completely OK ! :)

If I don't count the parts I already have in stock and the ones I ordered 3 days ago, it's only a 50$ crash... except for my flycamone2 that won't work anymore :(. It didn't handle the weight of the entire heli pressing it on the ground.

[Sircrashalott]

what reciever are you using....

[kkwait]

I use an AR7000.

[mjdee14]

Two possibilities...

1. the reciver signal was blocked.....I can't see from the pictures but do you have both rcvrs with the wires 90 deg to each other on opposites side of the heli and the wires in "clean air" meaning not right up against the carbon fiber?

2. if in a turn and coming at you, it's possible it stalled.....I have done that several times with another heli... in a turn you sometimes really have to give a lot of additional pitch...to keep it flying....

3..(I know I said two) but do you fly with your DX7 antenna straight up..? if so you might have lost the signal that way....they say to always tilt the antenna about 45 to 90 deg to get the strongest signal....

glad it wsn't a real bad crash, but it's frustrating when you can't pinpoint the exact reason.....I would rather know I messed up than have a doubt as to why it crashed.

[Drew816]

Sorry to hear about your wreck, seems to be going around and I'm glad the damage wasn't too bad...

I wrecked my 550 just this way last week, I was coming down and at myself with a slight turn and slowing the helo down for an approach and I must have stalled her in her own downwash; she just dropped like a rock. The bad news was since I was 'on the approach' I was low and had no time to recover. The damage wasn't too bad but I blew out my mainshaft bearings for which I didn't have any replacements so put me out of commission for a few. Now back together but still not flying quite right, and my confidence is in the toilet too; aaahahh!!!

Good luck on the rebuild and check her over good for sure! I thought some of those Spektrum Rx's didn't like Carbon Fiber all that much, is that a potential factor (as alluded too in MJ's prevoious posting)?

[mjdee14]

I thought some of those Spektrum Rx's didn't like Carbon Fiber all that much, is that a potential factor (as alluded too in MJ's prevoious posting)?

I dont think anything likes carbon fiber.....it's a really good blocking material for radio signals.....that's why the dual rcvr is much more desirable than the single rcvr...

I mount mine below the fusalage line so all antennas are in clear air.....I'm sure in certain attitudes it could still mask the signal...

Also never fly with the antenna straight up....and pointed at the heli....just like 72 mhz...

[kkwait]

Thanks for the support ;)

1. the reciver signal was blocked.....I can't see from the pictures but do you have both rcvrs with the wires 90 deg to each other on opposites side of the heli and the wires in "clean air" meaning not right up against the carbon fiber?
The main receiver has its antennas pointing left and right and the secondary receiver's antennas are pointing up and down, so "strictly" 90 degrees.
But... it's possible that the antennas were in contact with the CF frame, I didn't manage to avoid this. Could this cause blocking or fading of the signal ?!
I was so confident in the DSM2 system that I didn't think of this kind of issue.

3..(I know I said two) but do you fly with your DX7 antenna straight up..? if so you might have lost the signal that way....they say to always tilt the antenna about 45 to 90 deg to get the strongest signal...
The DX7 antenna is at 45 degrees... and I hold my radio pretty much horizontal.

[ke6d]

I have close to 2000 flights on 4 different helicopters in a year and a half. I crashed 9 times - all due to pilot error. I am using a DX-7 transmitter and various AR-6000, 6100, and 6200. The Spektrum technology is much more superior than the 72 MHz technology. If your helicopter has a locked out, you will know right away. From the description, it looked like you flying into the heli's own downwash and stalled it.

[vicrc]

All those broken parts and you saved the main blades! Awesome!

[kkwait]

Yeah !
I couldn't believe it myself ! :D

I tried and (gently) twisted them in every way : nothing, not a crack... I think there's not even a scratch !

... pretty good blades...:thumbup:
By the way, I got them at espritmodel... MAH CF 500mm, $60 and almost perfectly balanced, I just had to add a small piece of regular clear scotch tape on the CG of one of the blades.

From the description, it looked like you flying into the heli's own downwash and stalled it.
Well... that would be a good explanation...

[Drew816]

Is there in echo in here, huh... :P ;) :P ;)

Yeah, having done the same downwash-stall scenario thing last week sure sounds to me like what likely happened. Glad you saved your carbon blades, mine were TOAST and did a lot of damage to the rest of the drive train in their way out. Arrghhhh...

Get her fixed and Happy Flying!

[kkwait]

I will !!... just waiting for the parts... :)

[mjdee14]

here's how I mount my rcvrs

[mysticmead]

you should have one of those with the antenna pointed up and down.. which is recommended by spektrum

[mjdee14]

you should have one of those with the antenna pointed up and down.. which is recommended by spektrum

Mystic....."Thanks" I knew that and had it that way on my other hurri.....had a MAJOR brain fart......glad I posted the picture and you saw that......I would have been REALLY Pizzed Off If I crashed and noticed that afterwood.......

No matter how much we think we have done it right......there is always room for error....just glad I'm not a Brain Surgeon...!!

Will fix that right NOW !!

thanks for being so observent.

Mike D

[mysticmead]

everyone here has helped me out more than they know.. glad I can give a little back every now and then..

[xodarap1]

I've got one RX antenna in the heli's belly (horizontal) and the other on the tail boom (vertical) held on with one tie wrap/wire tie or whatever they are called lol. The Spektrum technology is awesome. I've flown the hurris so far away that they look as small as my Honey Bee King 2 and never a glitch or anything but a locked in feel with the R-921, AR- 9000, 7000's.

[kkwait]

Well, my Hurri is almost ready to fly again... :)

Here are some pics.
The canopy is ready to be cut and painted, added some stickers on the blades, and the boom is now long (the boom and belt I had in my crash kit were long so...)
http://kkwait.free.fr/hurricane/h550ok1.jpg

Frame is repaired, added CNC washout levers, CF boom supports, light weight paddles, wider landing gear (but really not noticeable, just a few mm wider and higher...). I also moved the receivers so the antennas are "in the air".
http://kkwait.free.fr/hurricane/h550ok2.jpg

And finally, I changed all the tail... CNC tail box and everything else with a T600 hub, and still my Radix 92mm. I just have to finish my custom tail fin. :)
http://kkwait.free.fr/hurricane/h550ok3.jpg

[Drew816]

Looking good, now get her airborne again and keep your forward motion up!

Happy Flying!

[Mikej]

Nice one - glad to hear that it is back together

[kkwait]

I did a test flight today...
There's a little shaking at startup, I have to re-check the blade balance and maybe tighten the belt a little more...
The landing gear (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_321_322&products_id=5528) is a too flexible for my taste...
The CNC/T600 tail is great ! :thumbup: I think I'll install a CF T600 tail fin, as my custom one vibrates, too flexible.

... by the way, the new Phoenix governor rocks ! :Bang:)

[vicrc]

Yeah !
I couldn't believe it myself ! :D

I tried and (gently) twisted them in every way : nothing, not a crack... I think there's not even a scratch !

... pretty good blades...:thumbup:
By the way, I got them at espritmodel... MAH CF 500mm, $60 and almost perfectly balanced, I just had to add a small piece of regular clear scotch tape on the CG of one of the blades.


Well... that would be a good explanation...

I just realized that those blades were MAH, a set I also got from esprit models, when I had a crash on Tuesday only one of the blades did survive. If you ever break one let me know and I can send the good one to you, just pay for shipping.

[kkwait]

That's good to know... thanks :)

Although... I hope I won't break anything soon ! ;) :YeaBaby: