49 seconds to disaster.

[Vikki]

Or.... how I dumb-thumbed Chopasaurus sideways on into planet Earth!

A wonderful calm day. Can't feel a stir of air movement. The only movement was an involuntary internal one.

I know what happened, I listened to my brain (stupid really). I saw him going in sideways and went to catch him but, from a long way away I had my brain say "Other way, Stupid!" And Stupid listened and Stupid pushed her thumb the wrong way and Stupid planted her helicopter into the ground and Stupid thought, 'Gee, I wonder how much water that'll take to grow into a 700e?'. Like - none at all STUPID!

I know why it happened. I spent too much time practicing nose in on the sim and I couple of times I'd caught myself wrong sticking it when tail in. D'oh!

So, what's the damage? About a fivers worth. If you bear in mind that parts come in twos. So, bent flybar, busted blades (already have a set), bent feathering shaft (have one of them), stripped main gear (don't have one of them). Servos feel ok, main shaft may be bent, don't know yet but I've got two of them (ordered just in case last time).

I was close to giving up - for 5 minutes, 2 minutes? 1? Well, what's a fiver and a bit of interesting work and a lesson well learned? Priceless!

Here it is, in all its embarrassing glory: How Stupid planted a Blade 450 thinking it was a Sunflower!

49 seconds to disaster. - YouTube

Best regards.

Vikki.

[mark_w]

Unlucky, on a positive note you did well to get it back to you when it got further away from you to start with

[astra 8vt]

opps not the 1st and not the last to do something stupid been there myself but on good note it didnt look to bad when it went in

not like mine the other week side ways in full chat but that wasnt my fault one servo jammed on me

[asomaro]

Yep - been there, done that - lol

Get the rebuild done and back in the air - all part of the learning curve!

Cheers,

[PeteStewardson]

Been there, got the tshirt on that one. Hurts when it goes in, and yep hearing that main gear strip makes you feel a dufus because you didn't hit TH in time. Done that so many times

[Vikki]

Thanks guys. One good thing came out of it, I no longer feel the dread of crashing because I've finally managed to have a good one. I think it's that fear or dread that leads to tension in the first place. Done it now, over and done with until the next time. May be I'll laugh five minutes later (on phone to hubby) that time as well.

LOL!

Vikki.

[rachel]

oH Vikki !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
such bad luck and you were doing so well :-)

I try to remember that if the heli is tail towards you and the right way up , then whatever way you push the cyclic stick is the way the heli will go .

Also top marks for not swearing :-)

xxx Rachel

[Vikki]

Thanks, Rachel.

I was speechless, resigned to fate. Just as well, the air would have descended the darkest blue LOL! Not really, I don't usually get vocal when things like this happen - unless I want to scare the bunnies (no bunnies were hurt during the production of this crash, indeed, no bunnies were anywhere in sight at all).

Vikki.

[cjcj1949]

Stress induced I'm afraid. I could feel you tighten up. It is the standard reaction and why it is important to start again from scratch with a bigger heli. Just a simple hop will be enough to induce much fear and anxiety, inhibiting normal brain function. This is what we call fun though, and it will soon disappear for tail in hovering. I've done the same after practising nose in on the sim. To begin with I found crashes reduced my confidence. Now they don't. It is usually better when it is pilot error, rather than some random fault. You might find that flying your mcpx carefully for a few minutes would help. The first few minutes of the day is more difficult than the rest. I used to feel comfortable hovering after I'd used all my batteries. When you get better you'll be able to feel as comfortable as you want.

[helimadness]

That's nothing. Stick her back together and get her back in the air. My first crash was more like 100 quid and I didn't even get off the ground. did have spares for the next one but :-) keep the posts going great to read. We have or are all going through the same learning curve.

[Vikki]

Thanks guys. Parts have been ordered (those that I don't have).

CJ: Larry is no more. Thread about it somewhere..... Goes to look.... Ah yes, Beginners- Whale of a tale to tell.... Poor, poor Larry - snivel.

Chopasaurus will be back in the air soon.

Vikki.

[Sheldrake]

Feel your pain! Did the same on Tuesday Morning! beautiful day but a little windy. Had a fairly successful first battery on the TRex450 (landed in one piece!!) but on the next go over confident let her drift a bit too far and then b***** in she went.

Not to bad though only broke the training landing gear. Checked everything expecting the blades etc to be gone too but seems OK.

Now need to get out and try again but work keeps getting in the way Oh and checking this forum lol.

[mark_w]

Others may not agree, but by seeing the way you are flying I would consider removing the training legs. It will make the heli fly so much better and as you are no longer just bouncing around the floor I just don't think you need them.

[PeteStewardson]

Others may not agree, but by seeing the way you are flying I would consider removing the training legs. It will make the heli fly so much better and as you are no longer just bouncing around the floor I just don't think you need them.

I was going to suggest that but I hadn't seen a landing so didn't mention it. I spent a few packs practicing just taking off, hovering a few seconds, then landing and it wasn't long once I did that before I decided to leave the training legs off. It makes it easier to hover once off.

[Vikki]

Thanks guys.

Strictly speaking the field isn't that smooth so the trainers just level things out a bit. Someone suggested changing my skids to Trex500 skids to gain height and width. I've ordered them and when fitted I'll remove the trainers.

There's another vid with landings in here. Topic title: Jeepers! She's all over the place

Vikki.