Had to say goodbye to my CAP today. It was a great flying H9 CAP 232 with a Saito 150GK. I’ve had the pleasure of flying for the past four years. It will be missed greatly.

I had a good preflight; range check was good, all the surfaces moving in the right directions, both high and low. Started right up as it normally has. I let it idle for a bit longer, I haven’t ran it in a few weeks and it was a tad chilly.

Take off was uneventful, good steady climb. I noticed a slight roll to the left, two clicks of aileron fixed that. Now that I think about it, there shouldn’t have been a need for any adjustments.

I did two flights around the field and it was going good. I tried a hammer stall, I think that it was it’s called, but it wouldn’t push over.

I flew it around the field one more time and thought I’d go inverted. I read a good way to check the CG is by what it does inverted.

I rolled inverted, pushed down elevator and looped back upright; I rolled inverted again and then it happened.

I saw a large piece come off the plane and it came down fast. I swear if there were flames I would have thought I was looking at an old WWII movie.

I fly at an airport so it is a solid concrete strip, not soft dirt or asphalt. The spinner hit right where two pieces of concrete come together. You can see the mark where it hit and the two dents on the spinner.

I have to say, this is the worse crash I have ever had. I have been flying for seven years now and have been able to salvage something from other crashes.

That sweet sounding Saito 150GK is now in about four pieces, the canopy broke into so many pieces (the largest piece I found was about ¾ by ¾ an inch), the receiver broke, the servo arms broke off, well except for the one in the wing that came off.

I think I cursed myself; I had just told the guy at the field with me I was thinking of retiring this CAP and buying a new one.

Here are a couple of photos from its glory days and the ones after I hauled the body home. You can see in the last photo where the wing came apart.

The funeral arrangements will be announced, the family is considering a cremation.

that's a bummer man. I hate to see a motor trashed from hitting a hard surface. I can say I have did it 2 times myself (zdz40 and a satio 180) I love to keep a bird around a long time like u did with this cap.

GC

That’s horrible was their anything left?

You can see the pilot in the second photo of the damages. He is scheduled for a flight review board but I'm not sure he will fly again. I think there are three or four servos that can be used out of the plane. The five cell battery pack was turned back into separate cells. With as much damage as the receiver pack has I'm not even going to try to use it again.

Oh yeah, the fueler valve is still good.

Wow[X(] That was a good crash. She must have know she was just going to "hang around" for the rest of her life so she went out in a blaze of glory.

Dang,did you have a self destruct button?
Well ,I guess you can tell the Wife that you need a new plane.
You also have an excuse to get a battery and servos,a nice receiver,spinner,a brand new engine,prop,pilot...

If I asked the wife for a new plane she would give me "That look" and say get it if I want. I'll get another CAP I know. I probably wont get one that size for a while. I'll find one that will take one of the engines I have laying around.

I have an OS 120AX and two 91's, a four stroke and a two stroke.

At least I still have my Saito 180 in my Edge. I'm going to talk real sweet to that one for a while. aka my new baby.

OUCH !!!!!!!!!

Hey Salty, we all know our planes are subject to random self destruction like this but it is an extra painful experience when we lose the engine and most of the radio gear as well. That crash was truely unfortunate. Good luck pressing on... I sudjest moping around the house, ocasionally let out a mournful sigh, then break into that 1000 yard stare. Do all of this in front of the wife untill she tells you to order a brand new plane/engine

I have been dragging around the house all day. But not because of the crash. I has been raining here so much the last few weeks and this weekend was suppose to be good weather. Well, I forgot to charge up my batteries so I could go out today.

By the way, the wife already asked what I'm going to get next. [8D] Hard to find a wife that will support your addiction. I may just look for a 90 size CAP to put that 120 in the nose. So many planes, so little time. I should have started this hobby when I was 12; maybe I would have worked wanting one of everything by now.

Awesome that is perfect timing, turn 13 in may

feed the habit yeah baby!

It is sad to see that plane like that. I have 2 of the 73" hager 9 cap 232. I love that plane.

I am sorry for your lost

[]

Paul

Salty:

I know this is tough, and, as you can see, we all feel for ya.

Did you ever figure out why the thing crashed in the first place? What happened to cause the wing to separate like that?

Consider a Great Planes Venus II for that OS 1.20 AX. That's one of mine and I love that thing!! With that one, the wing is one piece so you can reinforce the joint with fiberglass and make sure it does not come apart.

Best of luck.

CGr.

If you look at the last pic you will see it was pretty much a clean break. There was damage to the wing from a rough landing a couple of years ago. The gear folded and punched into the wing. I reinforced a few ribs for the repair and it was holding up pretty good.

I'm not a 3D flyer so I don't think I put that much stress on a wing. Maybe it just decided it was time to go.

I was just talking with someone about stripping it down and going thru the frame and wing and recovering it.

I had thought of a Venus II before; but after flying that CAP I think I really want to get another one. I only stayed away from them because others told me they were difficult to fly. The only time I had a hard time was when I would dead stick during flight, which is why the gear folded on me.

I could always ease it onto those two mains and let it slow to settle the tail. Never did a three point landing, but I haven't tried it either. I heard for IMAC you have to do the three point landing and I may try to fly it some day.

Salty you can salvage somethings it looks like. I try to salvage everyting when I ummmmmmmm misland. Sorry for your loss though man I really feel for guys when they have bad luck and I know some do for me and they get to feel for me more than me for them lol. I just lost my Sundowner Sunday to a faulty Muffler adapter that broke in mid air. I know it was then because the muffler fell out of the cowl.
But your wheels looked like they still had air in them and the motor mount looked pretty good. The landing gear looks like it might can be used again. Man just hate it for you.

That's true, the motor mount doesn't have a knick on it. I already have two of those metal mounts for the OS 120 I have. I will put this wheels with the other ones from "mislandings" I've done before.

I don't think the servos in the wings got any damage but I'm just going to let them go. I'd hate to lose something later from trying to salvage one.

HEHE... It's still sitting in the back of my truck. I guess I should get it out soon.