The Maiden Crash!!!
I was at the field before 5:30 AM. Perfect day, zero wind, 75 degrees. The machine was as ready to go as I could make it. I won't go into details, because the title already let you know the outcome. However, I spent several hours reconstructing the cause of the abrupt end to this flight. 30 seconds into what was a stable hover the tail servo link came off, putting me into a spin. I may have saved it if I had cut the power....but I hesitated a second or two and the main blade struck the asphalt....at that time it took out the linkage rod (links and all) from the blade holder to the fly bar control rod. On the opposite side of the head it took out the entire rod/links that go from the washout base to the washout arm. This had to happen first because the rotor blade came around and hit the tail boom. In order for the boom strike to occur, the blade holder had to be disengaged. The point of impact eliminates the fly bar...which was totally undamaged anyway as was the tail blades and the entire tail assembly. The pitch servo is kaput but the aileron and elevator servos (all metal gear digital HK servos) seem ok. The main gear looks new and no damage to the frame or any other component, however I have a closer inspection planned. The head is suspect and the feathering shaft needs to be inspected for damage as well as other components. So that's about it...a disaster with a learning feature. I learn...I crash....I learn....I crash.....this is great fun. I'm off to check into a hospital for loony old men. More later. Gary