I have had a run of bad luck this year. Earlier this summer I crashed my trianer 60 when what I thought at the time was a failed on/off switch. Last Saturday I finally got to fly the replacement plane and the exact samething happened again. My trainer put the plane in the air and trimmed it before handing it to me. The trainer did not take the plane very far out maybe 400' before he handed it to me. Being a beginner I was making much bigger laps the my trainer was when I lost signal with plane and it nose dive destroying another plane. Well I know it is not the on/off switch since it is new also. I am thinking that I have a deffective tx/rx? It is about a year and a half old and worked just fine until last 2 times out. The Radio i s a Spektrum and I bought it brand new from local hobby shop.

Well, it could be several things, the least of which is the radio system. If you properly range tested it, it should be fine. However, it is not out of the realm of potential problems. Before going to the radio, though, check a few other things, such as:

Other things to look at would be the battery, meaning the condition of the battery. What size is it (number of cells, type (NiCd, NiMh, other) and capacity). Also, was it fully charged? I know.. some are basic questions, but they are all things that should be looked at.

Next, did you check to make sure you don't have binds in any of your linkages? If you have a bind, say in the throttle (go to full throttle and the servo wants to move further than the carb arm will allow it will cause the servo to draw way to much current and this could possiby cause a marginal battery to fail).

What was the orientation of the antenna on your transmitter? Were you using it with the tip pointed at the aircraft or perpendicular to the aircraft travel? The object here is to have the antenna perpendicular to the aircraft at all times (of course, at all possible times.. granted, some times it can't but most likely that woudl be when it is near you and should not matter).

How did you orient the antenna (s) in the airframe? If using a dual antenna setup, they should be oriented differently, meaning one horizontally and the other vertically, and as far apart as possible.

Check this out and get back to us.

CGr.

Sorry for your lost aircraft, it happens.

I would have a hard time using a rx that had been crashed with no certain explanation. If it was a dumb thumb crash then at least you know it was not faulty equipment.

I would ask if you range tested the receiver from several different orientations before putting it back in the air ?

That is a must with any new or crashed equipment.

There are a lot of things that can account for a communication failure. Such as batteries, antenna orientation, satellite receivers or lack of satellites. If an experianced person checked out your setup I would assume it was ok.

If those things had been done. I would send that radio and receiver to horizon and let them tell me what the problem is. I know it is a pain to wait for your new equipment but it is really the only sure way to know. It is cheaper and easier then replacing airplanes.

the rx that you were using, is it an original spektrum tx or was it a off brand. Were you on a buddy box?

If you really think that it's your TX, I say box it and the RX up and send them in to Horizon to be checked out. You will never be comfortable with either one if you don't, and in most cases it will not cost much if anything to have checked...certainly less than another plane. When you get it back, make sure to use a 6v battery, and carefully set up and range test your radio equipment. If this is the same RX that was involved in the last crash it is very likely damaged. I hope you get back in the air soon!

1. Battery was new at same time radio was and yes I charged it the night before.

2. TX was not perfectly vertical. It was tilted forward a bit.

3. I will check the battery type tonight and let you know on it.

4. RX has a long antenna that I have laying on top of fuel tank and a short antenna (1") coming out top of RX.

5. Linkage on throttle does go past wot but was only running it at 1/2 to 5/8 at time on crash.

The TX does have the black rubber protector missing from it exposing the wire antenna. This was not missing when the first plane went down. I don't get to fly very often since I also have a rc boat. Remember I have used this radio maybe 5 times without any issues until the last 2 outings. As of right now no way would I put this in another plane.

Still didn't see if this was a spektrum rx.

Was not on buddy cord. I will be sending the radio to them before it goes into another plane.

You really need to answer the question that goirish asked and that is 'were you on a buddy box'. You talk about a trainer and if you mean an instructor I would be looking to him for answers as to what happened. Not neccessarily to blame him but offer some imput to your question of sending the radio in. Also if you were playing pass the box then the experiance of the instructor becomes even more important.

Often if you were playing pass the box sometimes the "instructor's" qualification as such may be in question. So what did he have to say?

John

I think it is a DX5e.

Hummm that is the tx. what brand was the Receiver

OK so this was a pass the box session and the next question was this trainer an instructor or someone who just offered to stand with you and agine what he said is of the most interest.

John

Yes it is a Spektrum.

Trainer (Instructor) is old school and only has fm radio's. We do use a cord when flying his plane with his RX/TX. And yes it is the same rx/tx that crashed the last plane. Both times it acted exactly the same. While trying to turn the plane it would not react followed by a nose dive.

I bought a kit TX/RX and servo's all come together.

How was it flying where he had control of the plane?

He is not a instructor for hire. Is a friend that taught my dad back in the 90's and dad passed away in 1998. I got his plane and it set in my garage until May of 2009 when I decided to learn how to fly. That is when I took plane to instructor and had him check it all out. I got the new servo/radio/reciever and he installed. We flew the old plane 4 or 5 time before it became a problem. We did not start of passing the box, but the instructor is comfortable with me flying once he gets it in the air and trimmed. I do a good job flying once in the air and have had one very successful land on the buddy box with instructor.

He had no problems but was flying it pretty close.

I would think that unless you were flying so far away where you couldn't see it that wouldn't be a problem. unless, of course, it was a park flyer receiver.

Was probably 800 - 1000' ft away. By the way thanks for your help.

Guess I have to ask, where is climax MO. My wife is from the sikeston, charelston area.

Climax Springs is central Mo in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

ty sir my wife knows where that is. Have a great day

What is the MODEL NUMBER of the receiver?

800' is the limit for Park Flyer receivers....

Need to find out the part # of the receiver. Can you take a picture of the receiver and post it on here? If it is a park flyer receiver the range on that receiver is not very far. I think that this might be the culprit.

Another thing to check. How do you charge your batteries? Do you use the wall charger or are you using a peak charger?

I am also curious as to what the capacity is of your batteries. (In the transmitter and receiver).

Post pictures if you can. This will help all of us to be able to help you better.

Regards

Glenn Williams

Is it an AR500 rx? If so, and it's only my opinion, I'd trash it.