As many of you know, I do aircraft accident investigation for a living, so due to my since of humor, here is a summary of what happened tonight. Wink

On July 20, 2005, approximately 2000 central daylight time, a Hobbico Avistar Trainer single-engine remote control airplane, was destroyed upon impact terrain and a structure following an loss of control (radio hit) while maneuvering and subsequent an in-flight breakup near Fort Worth, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from Greater Southwest Aero Modelers airstrip, near Fort Worth, Texas, approximately three minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot (myself of course) stated that the airplane had been experiencing some sort of "radio hit" on channel 28 earlier in the evening. After some trouble shooting with Mark, they conducted two test flights after the initial radio hit. The first “test” flight after checking the airplane over and adjusting the receiver configuration (moving it around), the airplane experienced two separate radio hits while on downwind at an altitude of about 75 feet above ground level (agl). During the second test flight while on downwind, in a straight and level attitude, the airplane suddenly pitched down in an aggressive manner to an almost vertical attitude, started to roll to the right, and then appeared like it started to attempt an outside loop of sorts. Subsequently, the wing section of the Avistar separated from the fuselage turned into a lovely lawn dart. The pilot stated that prior to each flight and wing removals, eight “fresh/new” rubber bands (4 per side) with 2 bands crisscrossed over the wing were used each time.

Examination of the airplane by everyone revealed that the fuselage of the airplane was completely destroyed. The engine was separated from the firewall at the mount, and was cracked. However, the servos and receiver remained intact. The pilot will venture out tomorrow to recover the wing portion of the airplane.

I will be shipping the receiver to Hi-Tech to have them bench test it. Hopefully I'll know more soon. On the bright side, I shall have my twist up and in flying condition sometime tomorrow night.

Some pictures of the layout examination..

cawthraj,
I'm really sorry to hear about you loss, and it's even worse seeing the pictures of it. But it's good to see you having a since of humor about it. I think this is the first time I've actually enjoyed reading about somebody losing their plane. I'm also glad that you have another plane in the air.

Thanks for the laugh.

Keep on flying

Ken

It happens... =-) I love the hobby, an it's part of it. Was kind of funny, another co worker of mine (also an accident investigator) was out there with me, so we both got a good laugh.

Will there be a published NTSB report?

John

hah! At least not an official one.. ;-) But an investigation was performed. Gotta love it!

A sad event. However, the wings are intact, & based on the photo evidence, the fuselage is repairable -- so just get at it.

BTW 8 bands is not enough -- about 12 will do nicely.

This is what the bottom line should have read, according to all the reports of crashes I have heard a reason for:
1. Pilot error, the plane was flown even after a know problem had made itself apparent.
2. Pilot error, the pilot didn't secure the wing in a safe manner, (not enough rubberbands).
3. Pilot error, the pilot was flying (the airplane had to get in the air somhow).

Just havin' a little fun ya, thanks for the laugh.

sorry about your plane, but that is a very thourough report.

With all those rubber bands, was the top of the fuselage still attached to the wing?

Sorry for the loss.. looks rebuildable though ... well, almost.

Avistars are known to have a weak link at the mating line where the wing haves butt together. The book does not tell you to reinforce this area, but it is good idea. (usually with fiberglass cloth) I'll bet that the wings gave up at the wing butt area. Sorry for your loss, I met you about three weeks ago at GSW (early). It was a sunday morning and I have an avistar on conventional gear with a K&B screamin' 48. Hope to see you out there soon.
-Tom

Actually the wings are in perfect condition.. They separated completely from the fuselage and floated into a tree.. =-) SHould have the twist up and in flyin condition tonight.. can't wait!

The avastars replacement is done and flying... I must say the Twist is a fun airplane..!!

damn, you really got that one good diddn't you!! oh well,it happens, grandfather just sent a senorita into a 60 foot oak 2 weeks ago, rudder servo burnt up( rudder elevator, throttle), poor baby tumbled all the way down, still finding pieces of balsa now, that 2 weeks after the accident


So thats whata range check is for!