Overconfidence crash...

[edmoore]

Just had an excellent demonstration of how overconfidence gets you in trouble... hovered tail-in through a couple of packs and was even considering taking the training gear off for a bit. Decided to try some side-on hovering instead. Find this extremely easy in Phoenix now so didn't think I'd have any trouble. Couple of minutes of rather wobbly side-on hovering later - big grin on my face; I'm the bloody king of copters

Gust of wind comes along and pushes the heli backwards 10 feet so as I turn to face it, it's now nose-in.

Shit.

I'm thinking, don't panic don't panic I can do this in the sim just remember the controls are reversed...

But actually my brain got to about the "a" in panic and I massively over-corrected the cyclic in the wrong direction.

Smash.

Now have a few days wait for a new main shaft to arrive to think about what I've done

[mookiiee]

big grin on my face; I'm the bloody king of copters
But actually my brain got to about the "a" in panic.

those too lines made me laugh

Keep going though you will get it...

[zoombolt]

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it...

Nice write up & sounds like you're more than capable. The heli gods do like to bitch slap you every now and then.
Get it re-built & add some wind on the old phoenix setup, it can be fun.

[terryk2000]

Yep been there done that . Learnt the hard way (as we all do) that a good escape plan is essential. Tail in is probably your most comfy orientation right now, so get a bit more height in your hovers and try side on hovers again. If things start to go wrong think 'tail in '. Swing the heli back to the tail in position then you will find it easier to control. Remember height is your friend

[edmoore]

Yes if I'd just had the instinct to whack the tail around straight away I would probably have been fine - I think I've just spent so much time practising nose-in on the sim that instead of doing that I tried to continue the hover. Mistake...

[zoombolt]

Yes if I'd just had the instinct to whack the tail around straight away I would probably have been fine - I think I've just spent so much time practising nose-in on the sim that instead of doing that I tried to continue the hover. Mistake...

Some of the best lessons are the painful ones.

[Balders]

yup, I normally go for the "get the tail in" bail out route, that and height So far, it's worked for me (with a couple of notable exceptions )

[Brian Gifford]

Terry is spot on. As I learnt the hard way, for any new move you try, you should have your escape plan ingrained. So, if you are trying to achieve side in, practice your escape until it's second nature. I'm currently up to nose in and circuits, for which my escape is tail in, and add power. I now do it automatically if I start getting brain fade. Sounds like you are making real progress, though, and we all crash from time to time, just some more than others.

[Mslater]

Had a close one today myself - slightly out of place on a backward circuit and its over my head, no problem me thinks, spin it 180 and fly forward - got it wrong somewhere and had one of those phoenix moments (you know when the ground suddenly moves) - Brain muscle took over - full power out + opposit stick. Was very close !!

[sooren]

We have all been there - unfortunately.
Regards
Paul

[GravityKills]

you're doing the right thing, you have to push yourself or you won't make any progress.
The trick is to push to the point where you almost crash. With emphasis on "almost"

[Lee 72]

3 mistakes high is what i was told. Problem is my last crash i made 4 mistakes LOL

[tiddler]

Funny old things brains
Its strange how they let you do something so easily with the simulator But when you do it for real, they just say "Nope, I'm not playing"

But, If when your flying for real you manage to convince your brain that its not real, just a simulator, then you've got it made.

Works for me. Well sometimes anyway

[simon1]

I think we have all been there with the over confident thing. Including myself on thursday night flying the 450 sport, I for some reason thought I was capable of nose in inverted hovering! Noooo! Well the outcome was a £30 odd repair bill Learned my lesson, now I know my limits. Get it back up ASAP its the best way, I have my parts already

[Mslater]

Funny old things brains
Its strange how they let you do something so easily with the simulator But when you do it for real, they just say "Nope, I'm not playing"

But, If when your flying for real you manage to convince your brain that its not real, just a simulator, then you've got it made.

Works for me. Well sometimes anyway

You can convince yourself all you want but when you're in the field it seems to take a lot more than 3 seconds to get it back on the pad !!!