Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
02-06-2006 | 02:12 PM
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From: , IL
Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
I am a beginning RC enthusiast and purchased a Ventura--three channel RTF. I was flying successfully most of the time, but had a hard crash into the ground from about twenty feet up. The wing came off and I had to loosen the prop and move it out a little because it was binding against the fuselage.
I decided to wait a few days because it was windy on the day I crashed. When I tried to fly it the next time, I hand launched the plane and it immediately veered to the left and I could not get it back under control with full right rudder. A couple more attempts like this and I took the plane inside to see if I could find out what was wrong.
It looks as though the mounting area for the wing has been damaged and causes the wing to sit slightly low on the left side (when looking from the rear of the plane) as compared with the elevator surface. It is very slight--almost not noticeable.
Could this be what is causing it to veer sharply to the left? I replaced the entire elevator and rudder with new--so they shouldn't be the problem. Is there something else I should look for?
Thanks,
Carl.
I decided to wait a few days because it was windy on the day I crashed. When I tried to fly it the next time, I hand launched the plane and it immediately veered to the left and I could not get it back under control with full right rudder. A couple more attempts like this and I took the plane inside to see if I could find out what was wrong.
It looks as though the mounting area for the wing has been damaged and causes the wing to sit slightly low on the left side (when looking from the rear of the plane) as compared with the elevator surface. It is very slight--almost not noticeable.
Could this be what is causing it to veer sharply to the left? I replaced the entire elevator and rudder with new--so they shouldn't be the problem. Is there something else I should look for?
Thanks,
Carl.
02-06-2006 | 02:21 PM
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RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
ORIGINAL: rcwilbur
I am a beginning RC enthusiast and purchased a Ventura--three channel RTF. I was flying successfully most of the time, but had a hard crash into the ground from about twenty feet up. The wing came off and I had to loosen the prop and move it out a little because it was binding against the fuselage.
I decided to wait a few days because it was windy on the day I crashed. When I tried to fly it the next time, I hand launched the plane and it immediately veered to the left and I could not get it back under control with full right rudder. A couple more attempts like this and I took the plane inside to see if I could find out what was wrong.
It looks as though the mounting area for the wing has been damaged and causes the wing to sit slightly low on the left side (when looking from the rear of the plane) as compared with the elevator surface. It is very slight--almost not noticeable.
Could this be what is causing it to veer sharply to the left? I replaced the entire elevator and rudder with new--so they shouldn't be the problem. Is there something else I should look for?
Thanks,
Carl.
I am a beginning RC enthusiast and purchased a Ventura--three channel RTF. I was flying successfully most of the time, but had a hard crash into the ground from about twenty feet up. The wing came off and I had to loosen the prop and move it out a little because it was binding against the fuselage.
I decided to wait a few days because it was windy on the day I crashed. When I tried to fly it the next time, I hand launched the plane and it immediately veered to the left and I could not get it back under control with full right rudder. A couple more attempts like this and I took the plane inside to see if I could find out what was wrong.
It looks as though the mounting area for the wing has been damaged and causes the wing to sit slightly low on the left side (when looking from the rear of the plane) as compared with the elevator surface. It is very slight--almost not noticeable.
Could this be what is causing it to veer sharply to the left? I replaced the entire elevator and rudder with new--so they shouldn't be the problem. Is there something else I should look for?
Thanks,
Carl.
You mention the prop was binding on the fuselage so you moved it out. I'm curious is if the motor mount/firewall is also damaged. A slight drop of the wing to the left may cause this but I beleive not as severe as you are describing
02-06-2006 | 02:30 PM
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From: , IL
RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
I looked at the motor mount briefly, but did not give it serious inspection. There was no obvious damage (i.e., broken fuselage mount, broken shaft etc.). I will take a closer look at it this evening. Thanks for your suggestion. Carl.
02-06-2006 | 04:50 PM
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RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
You could check the lateral balance(side to side). Most planes are heavy on one side and need to be balanced out. At higher speeds its not as noticable but the plane isn't moving very fast from a hand launch and this could be a big part of your problem. [8D]
02-07-2006 | 10:32 AM
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RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
Thanks again for responding. I looked at the motor mount and it does not appear to be damaged nor does it appear that the shaft of the electric motor is out of alignment. Should I get a protractor to make sure that the shaft is perpendicular to the body of the plane?
Thanks,
Carl.
Thanks,
Carl.
02-07-2006 | 10:47 AM
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RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
Carl,
Something is not straight. Based on everything you have done, the rudder could be leaning to one side, the elevator of the left side could be down, although it may not be obvious but the motor can be off slightly to the left. Place the plane in an upright position and balance it there with foam or somethig so that there is equal distance from the wing tips to the surface you have the plane sitting on.
Now stand back from the plane five or ten feet and eyeball the elevator to see if it is also level in relation to the wings. You can also pick a spot on the center of the fuselage back behind the wing and measure from the wingtip to that spot on both wingtips. The measurement should be equal or very very close.
Have you hand launched it at anything less than full throttle and if you did, did it veer to the left as hard?
Something is not straight. Based on everything you have done, the rudder could be leaning to one side, the elevator of the left side could be down, although it may not be obvious but the motor can be off slightly to the left. Place the plane in an upright position and balance it there with foam or somethig so that there is equal distance from the wing tips to the surface you have the plane sitting on.
Now stand back from the plane five or ten feet and eyeball the elevator to see if it is also level in relation to the wings. You can also pick a spot on the center of the fuselage back behind the wing and measure from the wingtip to that spot on both wingtips. The measurement should be equal or very very close.
Have you hand launched it at anything less than full throttle and if you did, did it veer to the left as hard?
02-07-2006 | 11:03 AM
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From: FrederickMD
RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
I would guess that your thrust angle of the prop has been shifted down and to the left. Maybe the polypropylene fuse has gotten bent or creased on that side. The fact that you had to pull the prop out to prevent binding tell me something is not right.
Will the plane glide with the motor off or does it still drop to the left?
Check your elevator - make sure its not cracked and is operating properly on both sides.
Check your center of gravity, make sure nothing shifted inside the fuse on you.
Good luck
Brad
Will the plane glide with the motor off or does it still drop to the left?
Check your elevator - make sure its not cracked and is operating properly on both sides.
Check your center of gravity, make sure nothing shifted inside the fuse on you.
Good luck
Brad
02-07-2006 | 04:30 PM
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From: Pomeroy,
WA
RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
Take a T-pin and stick it in front of the tail an measure from it to each wing tip. pick a corner on the leading edge to measure to. They should be the same. Do the same for the tail.
If your wing isn't on square it could do it.
If your wing isn't on square it could do it.
02-08-2006 | 09:15 AM
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From: , IL
RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
Thank you very much for your suggestions. I will try all of the above and see if there is something out of alignment.
I looked at the propeller last night--it is one that folds back when power is not applied--and it looks as though one side may be reaching out a little farther than the other. If that's the case, I'm sure this would produce thrust problems. I am going to replace the propeller, make the measurements some of you have suggested and then give her another try.
Thanks again for the very helpful suggestions.
Carl.
I looked at the propeller last night--it is one that folds back when power is not applied--and it looks as though one side may be reaching out a little farther than the other. If that's the case, I'm sure this would produce thrust problems. I am going to replace the propeller, make the measurements some of you have suggested and then give her another try.
Thanks again for the very helpful suggestions.
Carl.
02-08-2006 | 09:35 AM
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RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
[quote]ORIGINAL: rcwilbur
"It looks as though the mounting area for the wing has been damaged and causes the wing to sit slightly low on the left side (when looking from the rear of the plane) as compared with the elevator surface. It is very slight--almost not noticeable. "
From what I read here, it sound like the wing and horizontal stab are not on the same lateral plane. An easy way to check is to put the wing on in its normal flying position, elevator in the down position and sight down the center of the fuselage. Now move up to where the outer tips of the stab at the hinge line seem to line up with the trailing edge of the wing. If you have one line up before the other, then you wing saddle is damaged and lateral alignment is causing a rolling motion. Another way to look at it - the stab will want to fly level and if it's not aligned it'll cause the plane to roll. If this the case, you'll have to shim up the wing so its re-aligned with the stab.
Hogfllyer
02-16-2006 | 03:55 PM
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From: , IL
RE: Plane Dives to left on Hand Launch
Thanks for your replies. I replaced the retractable propellor and the plane flew fine. Although I really couldn't see much damage when looking at it, there must have been enough to cause it to fly badly.
Thanks again,
Carl.
Thanks again,
Carl.
