Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Blades are balanced and aligned, servos are trimmed, radio is programmed and it's time for the maiden flight. Switched on the radio, switched on the power to the Rx. A few beeps and the throttle is slowly raised. Just as it starts to lift off the feathering shaft goes into self destruct mode flinging the main rotor blades in different directions. One struck a nearby tree and shattered. The other ended up in the dog kennel some 15 feet away. Needless to say the rotor head has many damaged and broken parts, some parts could not be found. This could have been a tragic event but luckily no one was injured- or worse. It's disturbing to think of what could have happened.

I am trying hard to keep emotional comments out of this post but I have to say that this EXI 450 is a piece of crap! It looked good coming out of the box and the looks fooled me. That doesn't happen very often. What to do now? This has totally destroyed my already weakened confidence in xheli.com. Andy, I want to know what you are going to do about this. I paid good money for this POS and I'm pissed.

Hank

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

When I received mine, I went over the whole heli, to check if
everything was screwed on right and with locktight.
I read a thread somewere that something similar happen to a guy with a trex 450.
And maybe you did check it...
Bummer man, really sorry
Sly.

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Went over everything Sly. One of the screws securing the main rotor holder to the feathering shaft sheared off. I had such high hopes...

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

did you went over the rotor head remove the screw that connects to the feathering shaft and re apply locktite?


well you said the one side of the blade grip came off and we all know the blade grip is held onto the spindle shaft with the screw. So where's the screw now? If you used locktite, the screw that sheared off should be leaving part of it in the shaft right? give me more details. show me a picture of the screw that's sheared off with the ends still in the featuring shaft. Let me know if my reasoning is incorrect.

oh yea order number?

Andy

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Andy, I went over each and every fastener using loctite. I don't know where the screw head is. It sheared off leaving the shank in the feathering shaft as you can see from the pic below. Order Number: 764627.

In your original, unedited post you offered several options to rectify this situation. Do the offerings still stand?

Hank

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

still stand. I removed because I went ahead of myself. Now I know what's the problem so I'll help you out. So list me the part numbers.

Andy

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Part #'s ? I don't know the part #'s. How about we start with a new rotor head and set of blades for Item# 18H46_AluminumV2_ARF_EXI_450? Rotor head Item# EXI-31001A and blades Item# EXI-Pro-3352.

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Andy- where did you go???

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Andy????????

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

sorry EXI-31001A is sold out now. I can send you the parts. please see here: http://www.xheli.com/sppaexi18.html

I don't think your entire rotor head is mess up. Perhaps only EXI-31102 and main shaft.

Andy

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Andy, you're killing me! There is more damage than just the main rotor grip set and maybe the main shaft. See the pic below. It sure would be less frustrating to replace the whole rotor head. But, it looks like I will have to tear the rotor head down, inspect each and every part and make a list of items that need replaced. I will send you the list.

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Here is the list of broken and damaged parts. Please send replacements for items:
exi-31102 main rotor grip set;
exi-31204 flybar control arm set;
exi-31147 main shaft;
exi-31136 linkage rod;
exi-31109 stabilizer bar;
exi-pro-3252 main rotor blade set- (the previous rotor blade item #exi-pro-3352 requested is the wrong set).

You have my order information. How soon can I expect these items?

Hank

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Andy, why is it taking so long to to get this resolved? Things like this contribute to a company's reputation which, appears to me, to be of little concern. What gives?

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Alright parts sent.

Andy

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

What carrier? Tracking number? Expected delivery date?

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

shipped via USPS 420453659101805213907392755560

Andy

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Thanks.

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Sorry to see that happened, but experiences with XHeli have been fantastic.

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Parts are here Andy. Thanks

Scream and fly says fantastic? I give 'em a BIG overall [sm=thumbs_down.gif]

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

This just prove one thing....no matter what you do some customer can't just be pleased. :)

Andy

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

Andy, why would you even post a comment like that? What do you think that does for your reputation and the reputation of your company? You're just digging the hole deeper.

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

man, you got your heli fixed for FREE....!!

RE: Andy, my new 450 flew apart
 

exactly he gave you all the parts you wanted and you still complained. for all anybody knows you tightened it to tight and cracked it and as soon as you spooled up it broke under pressure. ding ding ding


Do us all a favor and thank the man for shipping you all those parts for free and post how the heli flies now os we can get a better idea how the exi is<br type="_moz" />