Another GP pitts goes down.
 

The plane was built exactly according to the instructions. JR digital servos, FPE 2.4. It was the 3rd flight on the airframe, the first two were flawless. The plane was easy to fly so I began to ring it out a little, a couple of spins, knife edge, snaps on the verticle up line. running a series of rolls about 300 feet from us the plane went nuts. At first I thought it was radio faliure but I had throttle control, then I realized one half of the elevator/stab was flapping in the breeze behind the plane. The plane went another 300 feet before it dissapeared behind a tree line, it went silent about 10 seconds later. I cant give any more info than this as we havent found the plane yet, it went into a very overgrown marsh, we did our best to get through it but between the 6 foot weeds and the 16" of mud we couldn't find it. Check you tails carefully {the one on the plane guys}.

pitts
 

sorry to hear that outcast...were the controls preglued? hinge points or ca hinges? -Tinman-

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

tinman, the control surface didn't come loose the whole left side stab/elevator assembly broke off at the side of the fuse.I had installed GP pinned hinges on all surfaces.

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

Were the tail brace wires installed?

what field?
 

outcast... what field were you flying at in nj. if it was the edison field maybe i can come over there and help you guys find it. phil

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

The flying wires were 2-56 fitted with sullivan golden clevises. Philjay the field is located in Unionville NY. We have arranged a search party with a boat for later this week.

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

Outcast, have you contacted GP about this?

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

No I have not contacted GP, I thought I should have some idea of the problem or I'm gonna sound like an idiot. We did find a few parts, I originally thought the entire stabilizer seporated from the left side, but we found the elevator. the hinges are still in the elevator and the half that was glued to the stab still has balsa attached. It looks like either the trailing edge of the stab was very soft wood and pulled, or we had flutter. After soaking in a swamp for 4 days its kind of hard to tell. We still have not found the fuse, engine, or radio I think it sank.

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

I would call or email AnnMarie Cross at GP, I had problems with a few of their products and was taken care of very well. Try it, what do you have to loose.

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

I have been following up on the talk about the GP Pitts :eek: I have one NIB and now I'm afraid of it. But amcross sounds like a really cool lady and in time like this...that is what a model mfg co. needs. Hey Ann M, could you please call GSP and give them some advise? :D

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

ZINGGGG... ;)

Another GP pitts goes down.
 

Well I see two problems with contacting GP about this. 1} I don't have enough of the plane to even prove I had one. 2} I cant prove that it wasn't an assembly error. I've owned a lot of GP products and this is the first I have ever had a problem with. I did like the plane and if it wasn't for the string of them falling out of the sky I would replace it. I figure I lost about a thousand dollars on this one, so from now on I'll stick to airframes that have proven track record.