Lesson learned at the field today
 

It was very muddy so I started the plane on the big pit tables and settled down to a nice idle. I left the transmitter on the table while I walked the plane around a big puddle to put it on the grass 20 ft away. I set the plane down and turned to get the transmitter and the engine reved up to almost full throttle. I turned just in time to grab the tail. As I pulled it back it idled down again. I have to assume that it was a range problem with
the ant. down. (I've never had a problem with range) I'll never move beyond 10 feet again without the ant fully extended!

Safety, Safety, Safety
 

Luckily no one was hurt and there was no damage to yours or anyone elses property. It's a wise investment to make for some sort of restraint for the ground or your table. Most of the time you won't need the margin of safety, but the one time you do, it makes it all worthwhile. Always leave your antenna extended while the engine is running. Do you think you have a radio problem?

lesson
 

no, never had issues with it. I think it was because the tx was lying flat on the table and the plane was then below it. I'll bet if it had been standing on the table it would not have been an issue. I had many normal flights later.

That sounds good
 

Just consider yourself lucky and be careful_Bob

Lesson learned at the field today
 

We've found that when the RX antennae is close to wet ground, we sometimes get interference. One of the problems with springtime flying, at least at our field.

Nuker

Interesting
 

The ground was extremely wet in that area. What have you found happens?

Lesson learned at the field today
 

The controls move around as if someone was jiggling the sticks quickly. Sometimes one, sometimes all of them. Symptoms similar to out of range. When we pick up the plane, the jiggling stops.

Strange but true :)

Nuker

Lesson learned at the field today
 

The likely problem was the TX ant was pointing at the plane and the RX ant was pointing at the TX ant. Worst position to have a plane. I have seen several people not realize this in the pits and have the plane act real strange.


Always try to have the TX ant and RX ant parallel to each other when in the pits, no perpendicular or end to end.

Good reason to have a restraint system also.. ;)

Lesson learned at the field
 

Amen to Magnum's comment on the worst possible position of the Tx and Rx antennaes.
In fact, this is the orientation that I use to do a full power range check, which just makes it worse with the vibration added. This is about the best test that you can run for range checking at the field. It should be done before any maiden flight and before the first flight of the day.
Wet ground has been a source of problems for radio performance since R/C flying began. Add to that a model sitting on the wet ground with the engine running, and you have a strong likelihood that the reciever was getting a lot of false Tx signals from the reflectivity of the wet ground back to the Rx antennae.
As has already been mentioned, consider yourself lucky and heed the lessons learned. Sharing them here may have saved countless other planes. Thanks!!