Blade CP Down!

[dalefranzen]

It was a beautiful day Sunday. Had what I thought to be a light wind. So off to the local High school track to fly my new Blade CP. Just put on my new shiny JCS plastic blades (Oh I am so happy that I did!! ) Had a nice freshly charged Lipo battery installed and we are ready for lift off. First couple of times where just quick hovers and then back on the ground to recover my nerves.
The last and fateful flight started out well. We started with a nice foot to foot and half hover. All was well, my heli started to drift to the left and as I was attempting correct the drift, a big wind gust came out of no where (I swear! ) and took off with my Blade. I think I panicked (SP?) as I seen my new investment screaming at a 10 foot chainlink fence. Mind you my heli is approx. 2 -3 feet off the ground by now (Damn wind ) and I shut down the throttle and trim. Well you can imagine what happened next, it was like a big damn grenade.
Let me recount the damage, 1 slightly bent main shaft (I will replace) 1 broken main frame along with the tail boom being dang near tore completely off. Ripped off the tail rotor motor. But I am here to tell you that those JCS plastic blades (Really not a plug for them, but man they are tough) survived with some Minor scuffs on the end of the blades and a couple of nicks that can be filed out. All of the electronics seem to have survived the impact. Have tested and all seems OK but time will tell.
I have decided that we have the technology to rebuild the blade. We can make it faster and stronger. I just ordered the alum. main frame upgrade as well as the super tough landing struts. I am going to attempt to make this Dale proof. God help this poor helicopter. I have also decided to wait for my Pre-Flight simulator before flying the rebuilt Blade.
Oh well, I take this as a BIG lesson.

Dale

[Nidrah]

I love you man!

Now stop being a chicken, rebuild and fly ... fly ... fly inside!
I swear my man, your discription sounds like my average day! LOL

Seriously though, the SIM may teach you how to control the heli on the screen but it won't teach you to control your blade, in the wind, with dollers rolling thru your head. It's just not the same. So be bold, go forth, and maintain your nerves so you don't kill the throttle. It's taken me quite abit to take it to the ceiling and not freak! To have it head for my face, and not freak. To have it head for the dog, and not kill him! Maintain your helinerves, take control of the heli instead of the other way around. I have yet to do that with skill but I no longer kill the throttle, I try to land. Note: I said try!

I just got my plastic blades as well. Look out bucket! Here I come!
Love them! Excellent!

[dalefranzen]

Nidrah,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I shall rebuild and I will fly this heli even if it kills me (and my wallet) I should have my parts today. The rebuild process should be done tonight. I WILL take to the skies again tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes.

Dale

[Nidrah]

Try to stay inside if ya can. In a nice clean area.

Right after I posted, I went and burned off a battery. Went too high, hit the ceiling. Things were ok and I recovered, without landing! Well, I should have landed cause I hit the drill press ... HARD! Snapped the rotor head right off! Grrrrrrr .....

Rebuilding ..... sigh ....... again

[dalefranzen]

Man I feel your pain. I am still waiting for parts. Hopefully they will arrive today. I have taken the broken bird apart as far as I dare without having the replacement parts.
I have been doing some reading at www.baldecprepair.com and found that my Flybar got wacked pretty hard. I am going to go thru the whole heli before I fly again. Those kind of crashes tweak everything.
Oh well, it's only money!

Dale

[fadetoblack]

dale, we've all been there man. in fact just last sunday i had a bad crash and the ball on my blade grip broke. i bought a new pair of blade grips the next day from lhs but guess what.. i couldnt get the @#$@#$*() spindle out cause the #@#$in screws were so tight. all i managed to do was damage my allen wrenches. i tried for days.. still no luck. today i just ordered a new center hub and spindle, bearings and hardware set so i can rebuild that part. im dying here!! i hanvet flown since sunday and its driving me crazy!@!!!! haha.. its especially pissing me off because i have the parts to fix it but i just cant get them on!! i am getting so pissed i am considering keeping a back up heli!! hahah..

btw, where did you order this aluminum fram and skids from? how much are they?

[dalefranzen]

I know about being pissed off! I want to FLY!! I finally got my parts today. Haven't had much of chance to do anything yet but well dive in tonight right after work.
I bought the parts from www.helidirect.com. It appears that they are out of the alum. frame but still have the assembled tough skids. The assembled tough skids are abou $20.00 and the alum frame that I bought was the Dynamic CNC frame was $69.00. I think that this upgrade should just damn near make my CP bullet proof (At least Dale proof!! ) It will also give it completely new look. I will report more tonight after the major repair job.

Dale

[fadetoblack]

i would love to see pics/videos if possible after the upgrade