Originally posted by motoman59
The problem is that I can't figure out why I would lose signal to my aircraft suddenly after flying 3 great flights and then nothing. Total lose of signal to the receiver.
The model in question is a Hanger 9 Taylorcraft. G23 and a Futaba pcm receiver and computor radio. I have a Robart 1/3 cub scale gear mounted as the landing gear. There are several moving parts on the landing gear. All engine switching is in the cowl. This is the second time around for this phenomenon and subsequent crash. First one was rebuildable. After several great flights with all the airabatics a pilot could ask for. I am wondering if some interference is being caused by the either the engine/coil/ magneto or something else. Possibly the landing gear. Our club has not experienced any radio interference for practically the 12 or so years we have been at the current location. PGRC is a great field for those who know it. I am sending the receiver back to GP for a check. Every one at the field was suprised at the crash who was there. I am an experienced pilot. One second you have it and the next its flying off into the trees. Now,
I am the first person to acknowledge pilot error. The first time I thought it was me. But the second time in the exact same set of circumstanses is to coincedental. I appreciate all the imput. It has good to see some real discussion concerning the possibility of this phenomenen.
I suspect your plug lead worked loose.
Last wintwer I was flying a G45 powered Weeks Special when the engine suddenly quit. I landed it deadstick and found the plug lead had came off. I reinstalled it and attempted to take off again. In the taxi out the airplane suddenly turned around and came back at me. I proceeded to range check it with the engine running and found I could not get 10 feet of range. I rechecked the plug lead and found I had not quite got it back on correctly. I reinstalled it as it was supposed to be and it solved the problem.
The engine would run OK but the electrical connection was not complete as it should have been.
I was using a FM receiver. If I had been using a PCM receiver I probably would have got it off the ground and lost it