taildragger21

My Feedback: (197)

I have had my 12fg for a year now with rock solid results until this weekend. I just set up a new 35% yak for maiden. I centered all the control surfaces and set up the model at home. When I got to the field I plugged the ailerons in and they were way off. I moved every switch and knob to see if there was a mix activated and there wasn't. I resest the ailerons and recentered them. Fisrt flight was uneventful. Second or third flight the aileron trim changed dramatically and had to retrim the plane. I landed and checked all of my linkages and they were fine. YES my batteries were up and was using a123 6.6 volt batteries. Moving forward to this evening I was racing my q500 plane. Went to start the engine and it wouldnt start. Got to looking everything over and my throttle had changed!!! I checked my throttle linkage and nothing was wrong. I reset the throttle and flew the plane. The plane flew fine until it changed trim and started rapidly sinking and rolling..I still had control at the moment just way out of trim. I retrimmed the plane and got it back straight and level. Finnally after about 50 feet up on the runway the plane drove itself into a million peices into the ground..WHAT GIVES??[&:] I looked at the crash site and noticed my elevator horns,servo,and pishrods had not failed. What should I do?? Is there an update I can download?? I have several 33-40% airplanes and am not trusting this until fixed. The bad part is I am in the middle of doing some testing on an airframe/engine combination for a company and need my radio... Any help would be appreciated. Chad.

Guillermo Ibanez

My Feedback: (1)

Now that you mention it, something similar happened to me last March 7. My radio is Futaba 2.4 Ghz 12FGA. I was flying a turbine jet when it had a hard landing that broke the nose gear supports and one of each main gear support.

When at home, I turned the radio on and I noticed that the right elevator was not aligned with the left elevator. When left elevator was at neutral, right elevator was lowered as compared with right elevator like if the END point was changed

I reviewed all and found nothing different than the original set up. AFR, END point, Subtrim, etc, was at the original set up.

I reviewed the linkage and servo horns and all was OK. I reviewed the torque rod at the elevator horn to see if the horn was rotated, and all was OK

Finally, I loose the sevo horn screw, took the horn out and review the spline, servo gears, etc, and all was OK

I finally decided to move the servo horn to the next teeth on the spline, and the elevator aligned with the left one.

I reviewed the spline on the servo and at the horn with a magnifier and did not find any signs that indicated that the spline has damaged teeth,

Elevator servos (2) are Futaba 9152 and servo horns are aluminum horns.

My jet has a Powerbox that says in the box 2.4 Ghz ready....

I want to know prior to fly my jet again, if Chad and me are under the same scenario and situation about the 12FG

BRG

taildragger21

My Feedback: (197)

Thanks for the reply.. At least you will reply in the futaba forum [8D]. Now that you mention it, my elevator done the same thing on my yak. I had it set up and centered. I noticed the upline had a pull they didn't have on the fourth flight(same flight as when the aileron trim changed). I am seeing a pattern here..Thanks, you have been so much help!!

Guillermo Ibanez

My Feedback: (1)

Lets wait an answer from Futaba

BRG

Krysta

From what you both are describing it sounds as though the pots may be worn or out of alignment.

I would recommend sending the transmitter's in as soon as possible so we can run a diagnostic on it and replace these if need be.

Taildragger, you should send yours to us at

Futaba Service Center
3002 N Apollo Dr Ste 1
Champaign IL 61822

Please send along a copy of this posting as it will help our techinicians when they check this for you.


Guillermo, If you purchased your transmitter here in the US, you can also send yours to the address above. If not, you will need to send it to the closest service center in your own country.


As soon as we get your transmitter we will be happy to check into this for you and make these right.



Sincerely,
Krysta
Product Development & Support Specialist
Futaba Service Center USA
[email protected]

taildragger21

My Feedback: (197)

Thank you! I have sent the radio with a typed letter and the original receipt today. Chad.

Guillermo Ibanez

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Krista

Before sending the radio to your service center, I think you should know that this radio is being used in another model and it is working perfect at least until last sunday when I flew this model without any issue.

Keep in mind that my turbine jet suffered a hard landing that broke the landing gear supports and maybe the right elevator hit the ground as in previous landing when I landed with a high angle of attack and in the video I can see the right elevator rubbing the groung a bit.

Can I do more tests like fly this cheap model again and check if there is a worn pot that will cause a trim missalignment? A worn trim pot will affect both elevators, not only one, doesn´t it? But, this cheap model set up is different because it has one elevator servo but my turbine jet has two elevator servos. Do this affect the test I am asking for previous to sending the radio back?

I bought the radio through Tower Hobbies but as I live ouside the USA, I need to find someone that travel to the US to send the radio to the above address.

In case I need to send the transmitter, should I send transmitter and receiver or just the transmitter?

BRG

Flying Geezer

My Feedback: (14)

Chad, do you have the 12FGA or 12FGH?

taildragger21

My Feedback: (197)

Hey randy! It is the 12 FGA.. They recieved it yesterday, hope to hear from them soon.

Flying Geezer

My Feedback: (14)

The reason I asked is with the FGH you have to be careful that your hover throttle curve and your hover throttle pitch are not programmed to be adjusted by the knobs above the LCD or the sliders on the side of the TX.

Also, you must be sure you don't try to set an airplane up in the heli mode.

Hope you find the problem for peace of mind.

Guillermo Ibanez

My Feedback: (1)

Hey Chad, please chime in when Futaba contact you about what they found.

For now, I decided not to send my transmitter yet because it is working OK with another model. I just think that my problem was due to the hard landing when elevator hit the ground.

Hope I am right.......Will let you know

taildragger21

My Feedback: (197)

Thanks guys!! I did get some relies at the other forum "giants flying", about this issue with trim pots. Seems it was several guys with 12 fg's, 12z's, and 14 mz's.. Wouldn't hurt to send it off..

Bax

My Feedback: (11)

Because this is not a discussion forum, but a support forum, we're closing this one down. If you wish to have a discussion, please do so in the general radios forum or via PM's. This is for individuals to contact us and get replies from us. Thank you for your cooperation.