This sounds similar to what happened to me and my dad (http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_82...tm.htm#8623594). He bought me an Eagle 50 for chirstmas as I had gained interest in RC copters. Anyways no life story needed, we got it outta the box, setup the safety landing gear stuff with plastic ball things. got it off the ground a time or two, but it would fly off to the left (or right i forget now been 4 months.) we did this in the garage as it was fairly safe with cars backed out. So we take it to my grandmas (yes it snowed but the snow was like rocked hard so we could lay it evenly on it)

i started it up and tried to adjust that left issue there, and it crashed somehow and broke the wings, ball linkages, and bent the metal tail rod thing. So not long ago i got tired of it sitting around and he ordered new parts.

So the other night he soldered the wires for me back to the tail motor and through new tube. we got the linkages all setup and put back together. the only thing we didnt do was reattach the tail motor as we didnt see we needed to, and alongside no blades. So we charged it and such, and wanted to check servos and check see if it work. Well turn it all on and push throttle... does nothing. i believe also the servos didnt do anything ether when we tried(i forgot ill ask dad if you want.) so i was like well hold on im gonna run downstairs and get the manual. Im half way down first set of stairs and i hear OMGand hear the motor go crazy and hitting noise. The thing went crazy and sent the Blue Head and above parts flying and breaking the ball that connects the ball linkages and cracked the plastic around the the thing that holds the blades.the middle pins in the Blue Head piece were bent... and not even possible to bend back. He spent 50 bucks on replacement parts already, and now its not those parts that broke, but different ones... I havent even flown it more then 1 minute total honestly.

All i keep reading now is bad things and he read before and assumed this would be a great copter to start out with, ive had more success with my grandpas mini cheap Aldis helio that doesnt even go forward, but can crash numerous times and not break... Is this helio 50 worth replacing more parts on? it upsets me to tell my dad this, but i dont wanna see him throw money away on this, as it was a gift... though i see no possible way on a return. what a way to start out my journey into RC's... yeah i understand there is an expense behind this and its apart of the hobby, but a little ridiculous "out of the box." bologna

And i just tried to post pictures, but it will not allow me...