furyphoto
08-19-2008, 05:39 PM
Well, every crash is ultimately pilot error, I am pretty sure this wouldn't have happened if I was using an inertial stabilizer instead of an IR stabilizer.
Almost everywhere I have to fly is limited to taking off between tall dark trees, but flying above them in the bright sunlight. So I have to calibrate my AP2000 quite high in the sunlight so ti will remain steady while I shoot. Anyway, at the end of the shoot , about 4 feet from landing, the heli, now in the shade starts to drift quite strongly to one side, so much so that almost full right stick is not stopping it from drifting left towards the dark green shrubs, realizing what the problem is, I quickly lower the gain on the ap2000i to avoid hitting the shrubs (perhaps a bit too quickly), Since I was hold almost full right stick to correct for the drift, the heli immediately rolled 45° to the right. PANIC, over correct, over correct, slap the ap2000 gain back up to try to stabilize, nose in by this time, the heli shots off in the opposite direction, straight sideways, into the trees. Whole thing lasted about .6 seconds
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59593&stc=1&d=1219180370
:DOH
Hindsight: lots of things I could have done different to prevent the crash, and lessons learned, but I can't get over the thought that if I was using an inertial based stabilizer that this never would have happened. I think the AP2000i is fantastic is many conditions, especially in open spaces, Arizona, Saskatoon, Florida, etc, but I think that where I mostly fly, it might not be the best tool for the job.
Having said that, does anyone have an FMA sensor for sale so I can get it back in the air while I contemplate dropping $650 on a Helicommand Rigid?
Total Damage (So far)
1 Askman 360 mount leg (Askman, how much for a new one!)
1 rotor head (sheared off, probably saved a bunch more damage)
A few pitch links
1 blade grip
horoz fin
2 tail boom supports
tail boom (I'll put a new belt in too cause it was pinched pretty good, looks OK, but not worth the risk!)
FMA Sensor (80% M.I.A.)
RX antenna - Trisected, middle M.I.A. ( I could used some experienced advice on this one)
CF Blades, hardly damaged, probably saveable
Flybar, not even bent
Main Shaft (solid!) straight and true!
If you don't want to crash it, don't fly it right?
waiting for parts,
-A
Almost everywhere I have to fly is limited to taking off between tall dark trees, but flying above them in the bright sunlight. So I have to calibrate my AP2000 quite high in the sunlight so ti will remain steady while I shoot. Anyway, at the end of the shoot , about 4 feet from landing, the heli, now in the shade starts to drift quite strongly to one side, so much so that almost full right stick is not stopping it from drifting left towards the dark green shrubs, realizing what the problem is, I quickly lower the gain on the ap2000i to avoid hitting the shrubs (perhaps a bit too quickly), Since I was hold almost full right stick to correct for the drift, the heli immediately rolled 45° to the right. PANIC, over correct, over correct, slap the ap2000 gain back up to try to stabilize, nose in by this time, the heli shots off in the opposite direction, straight sideways, into the trees. Whole thing lasted about .6 seconds
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59593&stc=1&d=1219180370
:DOH
Hindsight: lots of things I could have done different to prevent the crash, and lessons learned, but I can't get over the thought that if I was using an inertial based stabilizer that this never would have happened. I think the AP2000i is fantastic is many conditions, especially in open spaces, Arizona, Saskatoon, Florida, etc, but I think that where I mostly fly, it might not be the best tool for the job.
Having said that, does anyone have an FMA sensor for sale so I can get it back in the air while I contemplate dropping $650 on a Helicommand Rigid?
Total Damage (So far)
1 Askman 360 mount leg (Askman, how much for a new one!)
1 rotor head (sheared off, probably saved a bunch more damage)
A few pitch links
1 blade grip
horoz fin
2 tail boom supports
tail boom (I'll put a new belt in too cause it was pinched pretty good, looks OK, but not worth the risk!)
FMA Sensor (80% M.I.A.)
RX antenna - Trisected, middle M.I.A. ( I could used some experienced advice on this one)
CF Blades, hardly damaged, probably saveable
Flybar, not even bent
Main Shaft (solid!) straight and true!
If you don't want to crash it, don't fly it right?
waiting for parts,
-A