Oh the humanity!!!

[tkrahlin]

Flying the Apprentice today when the starboard wing broke off about 60-feet up and she lawn-darted into the grass right next to the parking lot. These were new wings that I just assembled, fitted with flaps, and painted.

A carbon fiber spar joins the wings by sliding into a tube inside the wings. Murphy’s Law says the first damn time you glue something without test fitting first it will come back to bite you. I had trouble sliding the spar into the tube after I applied the hot-melt glue and had to pull it back out then reinsert it. I think I stressed the foam at the end of that tube -- maybe even fractured it -- because that’s right where it snapped.

I had the camera velcro’ed to the battery pointing out the bottom of the plane. The impact ejected the battery and the camera taking out the front of the battery door and all of the foam behind the firewall. I found the battery a few feet away with the camera still velcro’ed to it. Unfortunately, the video didn’t save to the memory card.

I haven’t tested the motor yet – I want to blow the dirt and grass out of it before I spin it again. But, I still have enough spare parts to make about three whole planes.

Afterwards I pulled the Mustang out and flew three batteries. I gotta tell ya though, that felt kinda weird – That’s the first time I’ve totaled a plane and flew another one right away. I felt a little tentative at first - I kept seeing those wings folding up, but felt better by the end of the first battery.

Warning - Graphic: If you are sickened by the sight of broken planes do not click on this link.
Click here for pics (http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa62/tkrahlin/RC_Plane/Crash-07-05-2009/?albumview=slideshow)

[WingingIt74]

Wow, that's an odd place. Have any idea what caused it? Wonder if it might not be worth talking to Horizon about that wing.

[tkrahlin]

Wow, that's an odd place. Have any idea what caused it? Wonder if it might not be worth talking to Horizon about that wing.

Naaa, this was all me.

You remember seeing my in FlyCamOne videos and the stresses I’ve put on that z-foam. I’ve stretched the rubber bands to the point of lifting the wings and we’ve all seen what happens to the front pegs.

No, I [hairline] cracked that wing at the end of that tube by forcing that tube in. I remember thinking at the time it’s a wonder I didn’t break it.

Just goes to show you – with few exceptions, every crash can ultimately be traced back to pilot error. It’s the pilot’s responsibility to ensure that his plane is airworthy.

I tell you what – This stuff is built Ford Tough. I was careful not to turn the motor until I was able to use the air hose to blow it out. The radio was canted forward, but it, the motor and all the electronics are still working. And guess what else – That steerable nose gear collar and firewall are still intact. It looks like the plane was nose down, but upside down when it hit… the nose gear wire wasn’t even bent.

[apprentice1]

Bummer!

[WJCJR1]

Bummer!

I second Ken.

This incident has made you more aware to trust your instinct in checking if you think you may have caused a flaw i.e when you yanked the wings apart and thought you sacrificed the foam's integrity.

Wayne

[ATIS]

sorry about the crash...on a good note...she looks fixable.

[tkrahlin]

...This incident has made you more aware to trust your instinct...

Roger that!

I don't think the weight of all that paint helped much either.

[tkrahlin]

...she looks fixable.

Isn't everything for people like us?
::cheerful::

[ATIS]

true...very true