Time will tell here, as a group, those of us that fly helis are concerned. We feel we need to police ourselves so that we do not get in the position of having the whole club tell us what we can and can't do, what is safe, etc.

As far as not doing a good preflight and having a failure, that pilot deserves whatever. But bolts break, grips break, bearings seize, belts break. servos have pots go bad, ground wires break. Lots of folks don't use PCM on too, especially the newer ones coming from the ranks of the planks.

Yes, I know there is 360 degrees , but the cone decreases the closer you are to the heli, pretty soon you are in mor than a 40 degree arc. Again, it isn't just blades. There are so many things that can fail, even with religious maintenance. I hate looking like the weinie out here crying wolf. Someone needs to.

By the way, I practice what I preach, my micro is never intentionally closer that 20 feet. My turbine I spool up over 50 feet away. My Gassers, somewhere inbetween, I would estimate 30-40 feet.

Here is a laugh, I am seriously considering a Kevlar vest.
Jack