Learn from my mistake  
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Learn from my mistake - 12/8/2007 9:45:34 PM   
dbacque


 

Posts: 380
Joined: 6/3/2005
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Did I really do this? Don't I know better after spending my entire life flying model planes?

Today I tried to fly my 18 year old Balsa USA 1/4 scale EAA Biplane. It hasn't been flown in a long time but a little time with the heat gun, new batteries and a complete check of all systems had it ready to go.

I made a few flights on my Dirty Birdy, fueled up the Bipe, performed a range check, tested the batteries and got the 1.08 purring. It taxied fine, the take off run was straight and true, take off was gentle, then it quickly rolled inverted and smashed into the runway. A total loss.

After gathering the parts and hooking everything back up I found what everybody at the field knew as soon as the plane was airborne, the ailerons were reversed.

Here's the thing. The controls were correct when I was working on it, the transmitter has never been programmed for any other plane. It's got many flights on it. The controls HAD to be correct!

But last night I went into program mode on the 7UAP to touch up the dual rates. No big deal, right? Well, I obviously got it twisted around in the programming.

I've built planes since the early 60's and flown RC since the mid 70's. This is a first for me, I always check the throws every day and I've never had a crash due to a reversed control. But today I slipped and it bit me.

The lesson here is the same thing we tell every newbie, preflight your airplane every day! Check the controls every time you fly and double check them every time you exit program mode.

Dave
       Post #: 1

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/9/2007 2:00:30 PM   
WCB


 

Posts: 708
Joined: 9/8/2003
From: Mount Airy, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Sorry to hear about your plane. Thanks for the reminder.

(in reply to dbacque)
       Post #: 2

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/9/2007 8:57:45 PM   
ChuckW



Posts: 1872
Joined: 6/15/2006
From: Clovis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I almost did the same thing on my revolver a couple weeks ago. I intended to changed something in the transmitter on a different plane. problem is, I was looking at the Revolver settings and didn't realize it. Luckily I remembered to check the movement of each surface before takeoff.

(in reply to dbacque)
       Post #: 3

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/9/2007 11:07:41 PM   
SKYHI1



Posts: 129
Joined: 5/2/2005
From: PLAINFIELD, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Really sorry to hear about your plane. Thanks for taking the time to share the lesson with us.

Frank
Plainfield, IL

(in reply to ChuckW)
       Post #: 4

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/10/2007 9:57:23 PM   
PipeMajor



Posts: 592
Joined: 5/5/2003
From: Twin Cities, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I forgot to do this once but managed to do the control surface preflight - as the trainer was lumbering down the takeoff runway!

Another instance I did do the preflight only to find I had plugged the battery into the aileron channel on my receiver - I had NO ailerons. Caught that before we fired up the engine.

Yup, check EVERY time. Just like checking your RX pack voltage before every flight.

(in reply to SKYHI1)
       Post #: 5

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/10/2007 10:17:59 PM   
Not24



Posts: 999
Joined: 12/7/2002
From: Gloucester, VA, USA
Status: offline 		I have crashed three models due to ailerons being reversed. Usually, it had to do with changing transmitters or working on the plane. I had my son on the buddy box with a Telemaster, teaching him to fly. He took off and got the plane on downwind and then said "Hey! Something's not right. I think the ailerons are backwards!" I said "Can't be", but he insisted. So I took control of the plane, and he was right. My reversing switches were on the front of my radio, so I flew the plane and had him flick the channel 1 switch so I could land. I still can't believe he didn't roll over on takeoff like I have done too many times myself.

_____________________________

Fly it till you break it!

(in reply to PipeMajor)
       Post #: 6

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/11/2007 1:09:48 AM   
*JCB*



Posts: 597
Joined: 9/23/2004
From: Redondo Beach, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Given that our field has a fairly long taxi to the runway (about 150+ ft) I have made a habit of checking and rechecking my control surfaces on the way out and once again as i pull onto the runway. I remember when I was learning to fly a few years back my teacher said "Always check your surfaces as you pull onto the runway, I had and elevator servo fail on my taxi out once." Ever since then, it has been a great habit to check functionality and direction of surfaces multiple times before EVERY flight, not just the first one of the day.

I feel your pain in losing a nice plane, but the bright side is that the lesson has been learned for the planes of the future.

_____________________________

Shake Things Up!

(in reply to Not24)
       Post #: 7

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/19/2007 3:28:30 AM   
OzMo



Posts: 1434
Joined: 9/2/2002
From: OZark, MO, USA
Status: offline 		Ouch, but thanks. I remember helping a buddy at a SSC meet and we launched a combat plane twice with reversed ailerons...Heet of battle kind of thing

_____________________________

Yes dear, I did glue my hand to the airplane to keep from dropping it.

(in reply to *JCB*)
       Post #: 8

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/19/2007 4:09:02 AM   
MinnFlyer



Posts: 19597
Joined: 4/22/2002
From: Willmar, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I make a habit of setting the plane down to taxi out, but before I raise the throttle, I give each control a final look to make sure everything goes the right way.

I still got bit a few months back when i hand-launched a little electric with the Tx programmed for my OTHER little electric. Since it was hand-launched, I never got to that "Set it down to taxi out" part, so I missed doing the check!

_____________________________

Mike B.
AMA# 42400 www.gettingairborne.com

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others." - Groucho Marx

(in reply to OzMo)
       Post #: 9

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/20/2007 1:55:02 AM   
dhal22


 

Posts: 1217
Joined: 8/28/2006
From: Roswell, GA, USA
Status: offline 		i have always done a preflight control surface check, but with ailerons i find it easier to lean right or left as i move the stick, it helps me visualize the aileron rolling the plane down on the side i'm leaning to.

(in reply to MinnFlyer)
       Post #: 10

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/20/2007 2:39:51 PM   
DadsToysBG



Posts: 1569
Joined: 7/31/2003
From: Bowling Green, KY, USA
Status: offline 		I have had the same thing happen to me. It happened after working on the plane and had it up side down when I looked. Got into the problem after take off and was able to fly the rudder to a grass landing. The other time it happened was with a new member. The plane was used but I knew it had been flown earlier in the week. It was getting dark and had several problems getting it started, so i rushed the plane to get it in the air for him. And sure enough he had changed the ailerons at home. This one didn't make it. Because it was my fault and I didn't check I bought him a new plane.
Now every first flight of the day I look at every flight control and say out load so I can hear my self. Lt. aileron up Rt. down, Elevator up, down and rudder Lt. Rt. while i look at each one. Dennis

_____________________________

Dads Toys. I fly what I sell
CD Vette City Big Bird

(in reply to dhal22)
       Post #: 11

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/21/2007 6:40:26 PM   
bassfisher



Posts: 525
Joined: 10/28/2003
From: North Little Rock, AR, USA
Status: offline 		I usually catch any reversed controls during my pre-flight. Even when I'm about to test fly or watch someone (especailly a student)getting ready for their first flight of the day, I end up saying as they cycle the controls (looking from the rear) Right is right, left is left, up is up and down is down, Faster to do this than to say or write it. I've only had reversed ailerons once, and that was enough.

_____________________________

It only takes two things to make an airplane fly -- AIRSPEED AND MONEY

(in reply to DadsToysBG)
       Post #: 12

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/21/2007 8:59:59 PM   
Jburry



Posts: 560
Joined: 7/12/2006
From: Cape Spencer, NB, CANADA
Status: offline 		upsky/downsky (elev), rightsky/leftsky (ail), rightsky/leftsky (rud), upsky/downsky (flaps), fastsky/slowsky.

5 seconds, 5 channels checked. Do it after assembly before engine start, then at the beginning of taxi, then after taxi before takeoff. 15 seconds total, no totaled plane.

_____________________________

Revver Bro. #220

(in reply to bassfisher)
       Post #: 13

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/21/2007 10:22:47 PM   
dbacque


 

Posts: 380
Joined: 6/3/2005
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Yes, I do preflight checks. But sometimes something gets past you. Every one has made flights with a less than complete preflight for whatever reason. Mistakes will always be made and steps will occasionally be overlooked.

So the real lesson here is about redundancy. In addition to checking the controls before flying, I now check them every time I exit program mode on the transmitter in case a mistake is made during programming.

Sure, I missed a standard safety check and yes it cost me a plane. But if I had checked the controls after changing the dual rates it would provided a redundant check that could have saved a plane on the rare occasion when I flub a preflight.

Dave

(in reply to Jburry)
       Post #: 14

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/22/2007 4:13:38 AM   
Jburry



Posts: 560
Joined: 7/12/2006
From: Cape Spencer, NB, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hmm, I didn't say that real well. ... I'm sure you do do preflights, no doubt in my mind. I haven't made that mistake yet, but there is one I make regularly... Hasn't bit me yet, but when checking controls, sometimes I think myself to death and convince myself momentarily that a control is reversed. Usually ailerons. The ground version of a dumb thumb, a moment's incorrect assumption. Usually when I'm in front of the plane. That's why I now recheck on the taxiway, I'm always behind the aircraft at that point, and the brain is presented with a simpler job...

Yup, computer radios make an accidental program change easy. I just finished setting up a plane on an old futaba 7uap, a computer radio from the late '80's. Strangely, it has only one model program available, and there's no "clear" function. The previous owner had programmed all manner of strange mixes, and between the crappy manual and extensive programming, and 3 separate dual rate switches, I had a lot of trouble clearing things up. Took a week to discover the incorrect expo setting on ailerons low rates. Positive expo isn't what one wants on low rate.....

I'm sure I'm gonna make a dumb mistake on preflight one day, and I'm gonna feel just as disappointed as I'm sure you did when my model goes down. My sincerest sympathies, Dave.

On the bright side, Christmas is near (did I, a grinch if ever there was just call Christmas bright????), and maybe there's a new airframe in it for you!

Good luck!

J

_____________________________

Revver Bro. #220

(in reply to dbacque)
       Post #: 15

RE: Learn from my mistake - 12/22/2007 2:21:10 PM   
dbacque