RE: What causes crashes?
 

Most brands of turbines have a fail safe functions built into the ECU or FADEC. In my country that is the key thing. In case of total radio lock-out, the tubine must STOP. Some people seem to think that if they program their fail safe in this or that way, it may help them save their model from a crash. That they might be able to regain control after a few seconds. The truth is, you never know when your PCM receiver will go into fail safe and where the plane might be at that moment...... So, it's worthless... A jet is alway just a few seconds from a crash if you loose control..

If you use PPM or IPD, you will know right away if something is wrong, when doing a range check. And you will be able to do somthing about it. With PCM/fail-safe, you never know when it will go wrong, but when it does, it's the end of you models life.

Gerrald. We have the same oppinions wiht regards to KISS radio installation and maintainance. ;)

RE: What causes crashes?
 

Forget about the crashes and tell your wife that this is a sane activity.... no matter how much it costs! ;)

Enrique

RE: What causes crashes?
 

The JPO tracked over 10,000 flights in two years at jet meets throughout the country. The data is on the JPO webstie www.jetpilots.org in the members>safetycenter>crashstatistics section.

Short answers:

1) Pilot skills, most notably when landing. Orientation problems were up on the list too, particularly with novice turbine pilots
2) Poorly constructed or maintained airframes, radio systems.

Bottom line, if you are cautious about how you fly until you become more experienced, you practice landings regularly and pay proper attention to maintenance of your plane, your chances of a crash are greatly reduced.

This should be something you can sell to your wife. Worked for me.

RE: What causes crashes?
 

Exactly what I meant Joe, just as point #2 in your other reply. Failsafe can be achieved if properly set-up has been done, however this is saddly often not the case......

And as Stig states, I also know when there is a radio glitch that something must be wrong somewhere, don't go flying before it's solved. Most of the times you won't even notice with PCM untill a day comes where conditions takes the interference just over the edge due to electrical currents at the particular field, magnetic storms, etc....

Very glad I do not live in the states[sm=biggrin.gif].....just make some rules to make large public happy and don't think about the deeper consequences....no offence...;)
My turbine controller (Orbit) must also have a valid radio signal or else it will automatically shut down. PCM/PPM/radio failsafe.....model goes down anyway if the s**t hits the fan....this has been discussed many times btw.


Regards,
Gerald

RE: What causes crashes?
 

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RE: What causes crashes?
 

Thanks for all the input.

RE: What causes crashes?
 

Hi Gerald,

Where do you fly in Netherland? I work in Woubrugge 2 months per year, 20 minutes from Amsterdam. I always got my flying itch when I see so many open grass land, but the soil is too wet and too soft.

Mike

RE: What causes crashes?
 

There's crashing with Jets? I better start being careful.

RE: What causes crashes?
 

It isnt at Rabbit Dry Lake -no AMA required either.......fly as fast as you want - want an afterburner -just do it !

Jackjet

RE: What causes crashes?
 

My turbine crash history for the last seven years:

1) Kangaroo (1st time): radio/servo issue
2) Kangaroo (2nd time): took off with stripped servo (dumb-a$s)
3) 1st Isobar: PCM lock-out (solar flares?)
4) 2nd Isobar: wing spar structural failure
5) Hotspot: Turbine hung-up on missed approach and I had no room to land on runway
6) 3rd Isobar: ECU failure leading to partial airframe fire
7) Tango (crap): recommended CG too far back/unrecoverable spin

Many other more minor pilot error issues that resulted in bent struts, dinged noses & wings etc.

RE: What causes crashes?
 

Hi
Stig, Gerard al other you are right... but...

What we all should think about is that if you have problem with a PCM system you will have problem with ppm.
Solution is better radio system, my opinion is that jump frequense is a must today.

I will not say that pcm is better than ppm but i use pcm and have not had any big problems the last five years.
I do not like flying on modelfields in, or close to big citys, because of the many different radio system in city areas.
That is no big problem in Sweden... lot of air and little people. Different in Denmark and rest of Europe.

My opinion is that failsafe has to be used, at least on the turbine controll. Then we all have diferent opinions for the rudder and so on.
I think it depends on the situation and the aircrafts location and position in the air. What I mean is that if the aircraft is on short final, fine best rudder setting is like it is with turbine off, but if the aircraft is in a turn toward a crowd I would prefer either a quick roll into ground emidiate or stright on level untill pasing the crowd.
That is not that easy to solve!

Kis, is a good princip, but the problem I have had during the past years is ded batteries. The electronic with a powerbox is in my opinion much safer today.
It is always a problem with tecnology if the user do not now haw to set it up and use it.
That is what friends ar for, help before flight. 4 eys will se a problem before... dont be a hero... Lets help each other.

Another reason for powerboxes is the digital servos. The connector on the servo cable is not made for more than aprox 2amp!
Lets say that you have a 4- 6 digital servos in the aircraft an fly "heavy" , goush! YOU NEED A LOT OF POWER!
Send all this wia the reciever and you have a big problem...
Okay, I know you will say that you have 2 different powercabels and so on. But I have seen installations without that.

Once again, whats right or wrong is not that easy to say...depends on where you are flying...Own set up...Belive and so on, but for shoure we do need better radio systems today.
Remember this is my opinion...(Not always right)



Checklist is god for dummies (Iam a dummie) and heros..

Rudder ok?
Battery charged?
Engine failsafe programmed?
Pilots condition ok?
Air in system?
Weather ok for me? Not for the other pilots!
...
....

Regards
Anders Wikman

RE: What causes crashes?
 

Hi again
transportation is a big problem!
If I only could keep the aircraft in the air without transportation to and from the field, I would have a lot more time for building new machines and flying.

Anders Wikman

RE: What causes crashes?
 

Me, cheap shi**y switches, Me, crappy extension leads, Me, things that jump out in front of you (like the ground), Me, cheap shi**y batteries.... did I mention ME?? ;)

RE: What causes crashes?
 

1) JHH Hawk-Y harness servo reverser deployed flap when it heated up from engine heat.
2) Roo-hit a fence post on take off-pilot error
3) Rookie-knife edge too low-disoriented gave wrong rudder-pilot error
Three years three write offs-comeing out to about one a year.
Scott

RE: What causes crashes?
 

The desire for Fail-Safe does not require PCM. Look at MPX's excellent IPD recievers. PPM with Fail-Safe. Works great (I guess, cause I've never had a Fail-Safe event since I started flying MPX).