Crashed my first flight
 

Hi,

i have a 4Ch plane. yesterday was my first flight and it crashed. But no harm was done except for the motor shaft which was displaced.

I gave around 50% throttle and the plane automatically took off. It started climbimb vertically and stalled it self in mid air. I tried to bring the nose done but as soon as release the control, it stalled again.
I even tried to decrease the throttle but again the same stalling problem.

Can this be becuase the plane is tail heavy ?
I have checked the CG , it is 60mm form leading edge as given in the manual.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

is this an electric motor or nitro plane? what plane is it? what size engine are you using?

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Its an electric plane (Dynam I can fly)

http://www.nitroplanes.com/newdyicanfl4.html

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

make sure your Elevator is centered IE (trimmed)?

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

when in a stall you need more power not reduced power......sounds like a couple of problems......only 50% power on takeoff, always takeoff and go around with full power...better to have the power and not need it than to need the power and not have it.
Elevator trim as mentioned above....ensure your elevators are centered when the elevator trim knob is centered and the stick is at neutral.
CG.... is measured up from the leading edge of the wing then aft 60 mm not back along the the fuselage from the leading edge 60 mm.....if you measured back along the fuselage 60 mm, then you are tail heavy.....
Lastly thrust angle of the motor.......if your motor is pointing up it could cause you to lift off early...most motors are set slightly down .....the thrust angle should be set in by the manufactuer.....or called out in the instructions.....
hope you find the problem.....remember power on takeoff then reduce power once a positive rate of climb is established......good luck

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

I just looked at that plane at the link you provided. Being a tail dragger your wing is starting out at a positive angle of attack. This is causing the premature take off. If you are taking off from the ground you have to get the tail up so the wings get level and build up some speed while you are on the ground then gently pull back on the elevator to slowly lift off. As simple as that sounds it can be a lot to manage and takes a lot of control for a beginner. I recomend you hand launch this plane for now untill you get used to the controls. Run the throttle up to full power and toss the plane into the breeze at a slightly upward angle, maybey 10-15 degrees upward. Only toss it as hard as you would throw a nerf football to a 5 year old standing 20 ft away from you. Don't throw it as hard as you can.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Hi chasni
Welcome to a great hobby. Learning to fly can be very difficult and I suspect that many drop out of this wonderful hobby after they crash and crash and crash. That is sad. I learned in 1972 and was not even aware that there were R/C flying clubs. I just knew a friend who flew an R/C plane and I asked him to help me learn to fly. I had 2-3 short lessons from him and then learned the rest myself. I still crashed a lot but my friend had given me the confidence to believe that I could learn. Like anything else, some people learn to fly right away; I did not.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

After all of the excellent advice given above...I can only recall my first time getting a plane into the air. I did what many often do....I immediately gave it too much UP elevator and it stalled.

Every time I got the plane into the air..I repeated the SAME thing. Must be a natural, though incorrect...reaction... When I cured myself of that habit...my planes flew. Rich

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

If your worried about the balance move it forward a bit. I would say the trim and you might have over controlled it.If it starts climbing too much you might have to push forward to hold the nose down UNTIL you get it trimmed. Don't hand launch, keep both hands on the stick. When I was first starting 75% of my hand launches started with the ground. it is too hard to get your hands back to the TX and find the sticks. Hand launching is still a pain unless it is a 3D plane or somebody else is doing it.Even that dosen't always work out.Sorry Mr67Stang I just can't agree with you there.-BW

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Today, I tried to take it for another flight.....again the end was bad.... CRASH!!!!!

Before starting to i checked everything and the neutral position of rudder and elevator..

I increased the throttle and the plane wouldn't move and i feel that the tail wheel is very small and it is having problem moving on the runway ( I am flying it at my college airstrip which has a asphalt runway)
Can i do smthing about it replace it ith larger wheel.

When i increased the throttle too much it moved with a jump start and started drifting right immediately in circle.
So i decided to hand launch it and i think it was my mistake.... It took off fine but started tilting towards right and crashed on its nose....
Propeller broken and motor shaft displaced....

now i m getting frustrated, it takes a lot of time to prepare for flight and i haven't been able to manage more than 2 mins of flight.

And my town doesn't have any RC club and I dont know anyone who knows RC flying.. I guess i m on my own now..


@ Bonified Wingnut - I wish u had given me this advice earlier.... :(

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

A taildragger is not a good first plane.....for anyone.

A High Wing Trainer would be much more suited to your experience level. They are more forgiving andless prone to sudden movements. Regardless, it sounds like your problem is trying to yank the plane in the Air before it's ready to safely take off, givingyou a "torque roll" that can be difficult for a beginner to compensate for.Let the plane gather speed on the ground until it just aboutlifts itself off. Then, very gentle elevator to slowly climb out. This is one of the more difficult things for a beginner to learn.

Always, always do a long takeoff roll(until you have more experience) and get a Trainer.This should fix at least 50% of your problems.</p>

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

My first 5 flights were about 3 seconds each, all ending in crashes and repair. That was 2 years ago and I now have 6 airplanes (5 electric and 1 Nitro), 2 helicopters (1 FP and 1 CP). Dont give up!

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Crashes are just part of the learning curve & you will get better if you try to understand why you crashed. Beginning to fly RC teaches you a lot about how to repair & modify planes, hang in there.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Thanx everyone for the support. I have ordered a new prop and will be doing repairs when i get it.

Tail wheel is around 15mm and raises the height of tail by 25mm . It is also very thin and doesn't work properly on asphalt runway at my college. It works fine on concrete pavement.
Today, my plane wasn't moving at all even when i gave more than 50% throttle.
Can i do something about the small tail wheel ??

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Get some help. You can learn to fly no problem on a tail dragger. I have taught many. You keep trying by yourself with no help, you will crash many more times and quit because it gets old.

Get some help and you will enjoy it a lot more.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

@ flyboy - I live in a small town where there is not rc club or anything like that. I also dont know anyone who is experienced rc flyer in my city.  I have looked for help but i couldn't find any in my town

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

I did a little searching and found this website.

http://www.indiarc.com/

If you do some searching I'll bet you can find another flyer within driving distance of your home. It would be a great help to at least have someone fly your plane to do the setup and trimming and show you how to do the basics. Even if you have to drive 2 hours to meet someone that's better than 2 hours repairing over and over.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Chasnl-

Sorry about your situation. I agree with Jester, but if you can't get some time on a flight simulator and if at all possible get some good video of you trying to fly it. It is the only way I can think of to train somebody on the other side of the earth. If we see it I can almost garantee we can help you a lot more. That plane sounds like it's getting pretty banged up. If you can afford to it might be a good idea to park it for a while and get something like a GWS SlowStick.Don't give up flying is a blast. And if you can't get help there keep asking here on RCU. The only dumb question is one that isn't asked. If you don't like the tailwheel change it, it's your plane and GWS and others make a ton of small ones.

As far as...

"Today, my plane wasn't moving at all even when i gave more than 50% throttle"

Does it seem to have the same amount of power or are you just talking about it not rolling?

Pictures- video- if at all possible.-BW

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

I also agree with Jester. Find someone to help you. I'm sure there is another R/C flyer within reasonable driving distance. You just have top search them out. A hobby shop would be a great source of information. Don't give up as it is a great hobby that can give you many hours of enjoyment. Plus along the way you will meet some really neat people that share the same interest.
K.O.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

With a tail dragger if you have to force the tail to rise on takeoff you can bet the plane is tail heavy. A properly balanced plane will raise the tail about 1/3 way through it's takeoff roll. If it's tail heavy your elevator response will be very quick making the plane porpoise. When this happens chop the throttle and drop the nose to regain airspeed and set it up on short final and land. Re balance the plane per the plans or instructions. Usually 1/3 of the wing cord measured at the fuselage center will get you into the ball park.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Bump!

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Hi chasni
With your complete lack of experience and no possibility of any help, I would consider hand launching the plane with the motor OFF. It would be nice if the motor battery can be removed to reduce weight, but still allow the receiver and servos to work. The CG would have to remain the same. I would take the propeller off but add something in its place that weighed about the same. You can land the plane safely if it is properly balanced and trimmed and you do very little with the controls. I have seen gliders launched this way prior to a full launch, to check things out. Since the plane will be going very slow you may learn something without doing more damage to your plane. Are you certain that the control surfaces are moving in the correct direction? It is very common to have them moving wrong. I will let others help you with this because I am not familiar with your plane or radio. There are others here from your country if you want to do some searching.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

You said the plane will not move until you reach 50% throttle. Make sure the propeller is on the right way. Make sure the flat side is facing the motor, not the nut that holds it on. I think you need to balance it. Pick up the plane with your left & right fore finger under the wing along side of the body where the wing sits on top of the fuse. When you have your fingers located at the 25% of the wing, measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The nose should drop 15º. If it doesn't drop at least 15% below level, add some weight to the nose, under the motor until it does. Let me know how this works out.....

Larry

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Your problem, if I am reading the specs on your plane corectly, is with a high lift high wing your aircraft will nose up when you increase throttle and pich down when you decrease. The web site also says 3D capable which only aggrevates the problem. Trim is the most likely cause of the pitch and turning problem. A good technique for trimming a small light aircraft is to go a field with tall grass and hand launch with the motor off and adjust the trim for a straight moderate descent. It may take many throws but it will be worth it. Remember also that when you change the throttle in flight it will change pitch as well.

RE: Crashed my first flight
 

Propeller is installed in the right way because when i take the plane in my hand and increase the throttle, i can feel the force but on the asphalt pavement it doesnt move. It moves well on concrete pavement..

Next time i ll surely make a video of it.