WJCJR1
05-03-2009, 06:44 PM
Oh man all I feel horrible. I have not had a CRASH in a LONG LONG time and this was my worst to date. The wind was blowing down the landing strip and at a good clip, estimated 15 mph w/some gusts. Anyway my son was having a great time flying my Super Cub, I brought it in for a landing on about 1/8th throttle with the Park 450 and she basically flew herself in.
Here's where the trouble started, my son had flown for about 20 minutes at altitude before I landed the plane. I revved her up static on the ground to get an estimated baseline of how much juice was left, I felt there was plenty so I sent my son up again with the instructions of one pass around the field then I'll land, well all went to plan until when I was lining up for landing and lost power. My estimation of power left was a bit generous and I ended up with little to no power above a whole bunch of trees lining up for landing. I limped her over the trees with the motor pulsing nearly stalling at about 30 feet above the deck, dove in on top of the tarmac to get speed built up to make it to the runway, I made it there when a gust above the sustained at the moment 15 mph wind stalled the plan instantly. I gave the command for more power and plane stood straight up hovering with the wind blowing the plane backwards, then the propulsion was halted by the LVC and the wind blew her inverted backwards, I shut the throttle down to reset the LVC nailed the throttle and got air speed going with the wind, rolled the Super Cub back upright then bit the deck HARD. When she initially stalled at the runway she was no more than 6" in the air and I should've just let her bounce but instead I prompted propulsion, just to get some forward momentum mind you, but the wind took my propulsion and got under the wings and flipped her.
Broke the prop, pretzeled the landing gear and tore out my custom battery box. Shook loose my RX and ESC. MAN was I MAD! Can't believe I did that fiasco of a mess. It really was a bit too turbulent to be flying the Super Cub but had to do it, as a matter of fact with the Super Cub on the Tarmac the wind was blowing her backwards as I staged to takeoff, that should've been a cue.
So after I stuck the electronics back in place and temporarily rubber banded the battery box back in I took off again for my son, once more the wind flung her right over but instead this was on take off, flipped her starboard I got off the throttle this time and just let her bite the grass, no damage. Still though my nerves were further rattled. Last series of takeoffs and landings were fine with no occurrences.
After all this I flew my Apprentice for about an hour or a bit better with no issues. The Apprentice has such a greater ability to shake off the wind yet be light enough to drift in on most landings, it is a charm to fly. However I did make darn certain I did not run the battery too low with the windy conditions and always reserved more than enough punch for a commanding into the wind landing.
So in the nutshell I have a busted ego and a bit of custom battery box making to do again but she'll be up in the air again without delay.
Wayne
Here's where the trouble started, my son had flown for about 20 minutes at altitude before I landed the plane. I revved her up static on the ground to get an estimated baseline of how much juice was left, I felt there was plenty so I sent my son up again with the instructions of one pass around the field then I'll land, well all went to plan until when I was lining up for landing and lost power. My estimation of power left was a bit generous and I ended up with little to no power above a whole bunch of trees lining up for landing. I limped her over the trees with the motor pulsing nearly stalling at about 30 feet above the deck, dove in on top of the tarmac to get speed built up to make it to the runway, I made it there when a gust above the sustained at the moment 15 mph wind stalled the plan instantly. I gave the command for more power and plane stood straight up hovering with the wind blowing the plane backwards, then the propulsion was halted by the LVC and the wind blew her inverted backwards, I shut the throttle down to reset the LVC nailed the throttle and got air speed going with the wind, rolled the Super Cub back upright then bit the deck HARD. When she initially stalled at the runway she was no more than 6" in the air and I should've just let her bounce but instead I prompted propulsion, just to get some forward momentum mind you, but the wind took my propulsion and got under the wings and flipped her.
Broke the prop, pretzeled the landing gear and tore out my custom battery box. Shook loose my RX and ESC. MAN was I MAD! Can't believe I did that fiasco of a mess. It really was a bit too turbulent to be flying the Super Cub but had to do it, as a matter of fact with the Super Cub on the Tarmac the wind was blowing her backwards as I staged to takeoff, that should've been a cue.
So after I stuck the electronics back in place and temporarily rubber banded the battery box back in I took off again for my son, once more the wind flung her right over but instead this was on take off, flipped her starboard I got off the throttle this time and just let her bite the grass, no damage. Still though my nerves were further rattled. Last series of takeoffs and landings were fine with no occurrences.
After all this I flew my Apprentice for about an hour or a bit better with no issues. The Apprentice has such a greater ability to shake off the wind yet be light enough to drift in on most landings, it is a charm to fly. However I did make darn certain I did not run the battery too low with the windy conditions and always reserved more than enough punch for a commanding into the wind landing.
So in the nutshell I have a busted ego and a bit of custom battery box making to do again but she'll be up in the air again without delay.
Wayne