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Cletus · 10-03-2010, 05:55 PM

Started off like a normal flying day. Did two demo spool-ups and eye level hovers just ahead of the pit area for some St. Anthony's College Science Class Students, since they showed great and genuine interest in our heli technology. Those flights went well not a single hitch. Deepak was out in the field tearing-up the sky with his Logo 600. After Deepak's flight, we went out to fly the Intrepid. Spool-up went fine, lift off no issues, so I banked right to begin some easy circuits. After banking right and leveling out, I engaged Idle-up 1 and then it started ....WTF? the most serious vibration I've ever seen on a heli. I tried to land as quickly as possible but she just tore herself apart and into the ground she went. The Skookum tried it's best to hold true and I believe it succeeded because there was no tendency to yaw, pitch or roll .....the thing was just trying to beat itself to death in flight. Hit the ground pretty hard and fairly level on the skids, the starboard skid taking the initial impact and collapsing, I also believe there was a boom-strike, happened so fast, I can't be sure. Will download the FADEC and Skookum flight data for analysis and do the damage report later ....just too Pissed-Off to deal with that wreck at this moment

.....now, where did I put that bottle of Jack?

Thrasymedes · 10-03-2010, 06:16 PM

Oh man Cletus, I'm very sorry for your crash...

Skiddz · 10-03-2010, 06:17 PM

Ouch.. Hate to see an Intrepid down... How's the mainshaft bearings? Sounds like my bearing failure, but thankfully, I was only a foot off the ground when mine let go.

Must be the day for it. Was at the local Marine Corps Air Station (Mirimar) with the RC Club and we got the nod to fly this morning.. Spooled up the Intrepid and picked up into a hover, got it stable and poured the coals to 'er. She shot straight up and then I pushed over into forward flight...

Did a couple circuits, a couple stall turns, a roll and then it started acting just like it did at IRCHA with the odd tail drift and pitching problems. Landed and checked out the channel monitor. Rudder pot was out of whack again - just got the radio back from Horizon a couple weeks ago and they said it was all fine. Arghh!!

On the good side, the helicopter attracted a LOT of attention from some very pretty women - the last one as I was leaving was "oh my gawd" hot..

rkeith2 · 10-03-2010, 06:37 PM

Kevin that was not tail drift it was body english as you were trying to look at the hotties.

Cletus - sounds like main bearings to me.

tott · 10-03-2010, 06:42 PM

I will have a drink of jack for ya.......or two or three...

Cletus · 10-03-2010, 06:49 PM

I will check into those bearings folks. How come the gassers don't seem to suffer with that problem (I may be wrong)? I don't have that many flights on this bird and so many on the gasser.
I just need to cool down before I start working on it ...still very upset, it was feeling so VERY "Dialed-in" over the last few weekends

BTW Altitude was <10-feet

[X]Outlaw · 10-03-2010, 06:57 PM

Man sorry to hear about the crash

But I'm sure in not time she will be back and better than ever!

Cletus · 10-03-2010, 07:18 PM

Brought the wounded bird into the shop and plugged-in the USB ....Skookum replay is reporting vibration levels of 9.9 at 1490 RPM

....looks like on impact, my wiring harness jumped-upwards, pulling out the RX connector from the FADEC, and shut the engine down.
.....now to pour another drink!

flyingrhino · 10-03-2010, 07:25 PM

That just sucks Cletus.

JC · 10-03-2010, 07:54 PM

No fire though.

I mean, if there's a bright side, I guess that would be it.

Crashing sucks, but crashing and burning is the worst.

Hope you're back in the air soon.

eggBeater1965 · 10-03-2010, 08:57 PM

Yeah, I know the felling, I had a link go bad and give out doing a wall on my 700. Heli part everywhere, the bright side? Fame landed in the tall soft grass.

At least there was no fire.

Good luck rebuilding and like I always say "Crash and then upgrade!!"

cbdane · 10-03-2010, 11:48 PM

Oh no, no, no... So sorry Cletus.

It may be still too early in the grieving process to start speculating. However, like Kevin's failure, you had an extended period of fighting vibration before the problem was finally solved. If the bearing in fact blew up, it could be the result of metal fatigue in the races from the earlier vibrational loads. The problem with fatigue is that it is completely undetectable until the onset of crack initiation and growth.

I think that after these experiences I'd keep extra bearings on hand (and use the double bearing mod) swapping out the bearings after any vibration event, whether or not it seems necessary.

Really, really hate to hear this...

raptorruss · 10-04-2010, 06:11 AM

Sorry about your crash,keep us post on how much its going to cost to get her back in the air again.

fr8brkr · 10-04-2010, 06:50 AM

That's a tough one Cletus, I can assure you that the absence of fire will help minimize the damage but nonetheless you have some work cut out for you.

Cletus · 10-04-2010, 07:33 AM

Will begin taking stuff apart tonight, taking and posting pics as I go. I brought home all the wreckage so we could try to analyze what happened. So far, no evidence of main bearing failure (will change em out nonetheless), but the new CDT gear is locked-up maybe a factor?
Although that RX connector should not have disconnected at the fadec on impact (it was too taught in the harness), turned out to be a good thing in this instance, as I'm sure it prevented a fire bu shutting down the turbine, as there was kero dripping at the crash-site. The engine looks unscathed except for a minor ding in the stbd exhaust.
........Will know more tonight

Thanks for all the recommendations and kind words folks

v22chap · 10-04-2010, 08:40 AM

Sorry to hear about your troubles Cletus ... that sucks big time

I don't mind crashing from a dumb thumb ... but this type of stuff makes me mad

Keep the faith and get to working on it again and good luck

Helihover · 10-04-2010, 10:41 AM

No, no and double no

I am really sorry to see your bird like this. This is the worst nightmare, but as others has pointed out you were luckey that there wasn`t a fire evolving.
It will be interresting to see what caused this unfortunate accident.
Good luck on you rebuild

Now get it back together, and fly it again

All the best from Norway.

deepak · 10-04-2010, 09:59 PM

Man oh Man...........Cletus
I feel your pain! That was some serious vibration. On the bright side. The damage was at a minimum. She'll be back in due course.
Laterz
D

Cletus · 10-05-2010, 07:53 PM

This evening I had a chance to properly eyeball the wreckage and come-up with a list.
Usual things really, boom shafts, torque tube, right lower frame, pitch-arms, blades, etc. The tanks are all dinged-up but reusable and the canopy can definitely be salvaged. Got quite a few bits and pieces in my spares stock already. Will finalize the list tomorrow and pop an e-mail order to Maryann.
So, looks like i've got a project going on

.........crap happens so damned fast!

Skiddz · 10-05-2010, 10:28 PM

A possible fix for your tanks.. Plug 'em up good and fill them with water (leave a bit of an air gap, but not much) and freeeze 'em. The expanding water will take out most of the dings.

10-03-2010, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cletus Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2009	It Happened Today Started off like a normal flying day. Did two demo spool-ups and eye level hovers just ahead of the pit area for some St. Anthony's College Science Class Students, since they showed great and genuine interest in our heli technology. Those flights went well not a single hitch. Deepak was out in the field tearing-up the sky with his Logo 600. After Deepak's flight, we went out to fly the Intrepid. Spool-up went fine, lift off no issues, so I banked right to begin some easy circuits. After banking right and leveling out, I engaged Idle-up 1 and then it started ....WTF? the most serious vibration I've ever seen on a heli. I tried to land as quickly as possible but she just tore herself apart and into the ground she went. The Skookum tried it's best to hold true and I believe it succeeded because there was no tendency to yaw, pitch or roll .....the thing was just trying to beat itself to death in flight. Hit the ground pretty hard and fairly level on the skids, the starboard skid taking the initial impact and collapsing, I also believe there was a boom-strike, happened so fast, I can't be sure. Will download the FADEC and Skookum flight data for analysis and do the damage report later ....just too Pissed-Off to deal with that wreck at this moment .....now, where did I put that bottle of Jack? __________________ A helicopter in flight is a working demonstration of all the basic physical laws of the universe in action. Member: AMA 928457 - IRCHA 3449

10-03-2010, 06:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Thrasymedes NERD Join Date: Apr 2008	Oh man Cletus, I'm very sorry for your crash... __________________ Norman Fun times and good friends.

10-03-2010, 06:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Skiddz HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: May 2006	Ouch.. Hate to see an Intrepid down... How's the mainshaft bearings? Sounds like my bearing failure, but thankfully, I was only a foot off the ground when mine let go. Must be the day for it. Was at the local Marine Corps Air Station (Mirimar) with the RC Club and we got the nod to fly this morning.. Spooled up the Intrepid and picked up into a hover, got it stable and poured the coals to 'er. She shot straight up and then I pushed over into forward flight... Did a couple circuits, a couple stall turns, a roll and then it started acting just like it did at IRCHA with the odd tail drift and pitching problems. Landed and checked out the channel monitor. Rudder pot was out of whack again - just got the radio back from Horizon a couple weeks ago and they said it was all fine. Arghh!! On the good side, the helicopter attracted a LOT of attention from some very pretty women - the last one as I was leaving was "oh my gawd" hot.. __________________ -Kevin No helicopters were harmed in the creation of this post. AMA CD # 7309, Turbine Waiver# RW 890 Click Here For Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos

10-03-2010, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
rkeith2 Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2005	Kevin that was not tail drift it was body english as you were trying to look at the hotties. Cletus - sounds like main bearings to me. __________________ Ron Keith Keith Ranch Santo, TX AMA CD # 8305, Turbine Waiver 505, IRCHA 2367 Bergen R/C Helicopters -

10-03-2010, 06:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
tott Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2008	OUCH... I will have a drink of jack for ya.......or two or three...

10-03-2010, 06:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cletus Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2009	I will check into those bearings folks. How come the gassers don't seem to suffer with that problem (I may be wrong)? I don't have that many flights on this bird and so many on the gasser. I just need to cool down before I start working on it ...still very upset, it was feeling so VERY "Dialed-in" over the last few weekends BTW Altitude was <10-feet __________________ A helicopter in flight is a working demonstration of all the basic physical laws of the universe in action. Member: AMA 928457 - IRCHA 3449

10-03-2010, 06:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
[X]Outlaw Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Mar 2008	Man sorry to hear about the crash But I'm sure in not time she will be back and better than ever!

10-03-2010, 07:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cletus Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2009	Brought the wounded bird into the shop and plugged-in the USB ....Skookum replay is reporting vibration levels of 9.9 at 1490 RPM ....looks like on impact, my wiring harness jumped-upwards, pulling out the RX connector from the FADEC, and shut the engine down. .....now to pour another drink! __________________ A helicopter in flight is a working demonstration of all the basic physical laws of the universe in action. Member: AMA 928457 - IRCHA 3449

10-03-2010, 07:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
flyingrhino Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jul 2006	That just sucks Cletus. __________________ Bergen Tazer 800, Bergen 44 Magnum, Trex 600E, Trex 600ESP, Trex 450SE AMA 727477 Turbine Waiver RW2070

10-03-2010, 07:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
JC Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Feb 2007	No fire though. I mean, if there's a bright side, I guess that would be it. Crashing sucks, but crashing and burning is the worst. Hope you're back in the air soon. __________________ Jeff Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

10-03-2010, 08:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
eggBeater1965 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2008	Yeah, I know the felling, I had a link go bad and give out doing a wall on my 700. Heli part everywhere, the bright side? Fame landed in the tall soft grass. At least there was no fire. Good luck rebuilding and like I always say "Crash and then upgrade!!" __________________ BoiseHeliDude If the brain was simple to understand, we would all be too simple to understand it.

10-03-2010, 11:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
cbdane Registered Users Join Date: May 2006	Oh no, no, no... So sorry Cletus. It may be still too early in the grieving process to start speculating. However, like Kevin's failure, you had an extended period of fighting vibration before the problem was finally solved. If the bearing in fact blew up, it could be the result of metal fatigue in the races from the earlier vibrational loads. The problem with fatigue is that it is completely undetectable until the onset of crack initiation and growth. I think that after these experiences I'd keep extra bearings on hand (and use the double bearing mod) swapping out the bearings after any vibration event, whether or not it seems necessary. Really, really hate to hear this... __________________ Have laser, will travel.

10-04-2010, 06:11 AM	#13 (permalink)
raptorruss Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: AUSTRALIA	Sorry about your crash,keep us post on how much its going to cost to get her back in the air again.

10-04-2010, 06:50 AM	#14 (permalink)
fr8brkr Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2007	That's a tough one Cletus, I can assure you that the absence of fire will help minimize the damage but nonetheless you have some work cut out for you. __________________ Problems? - Mine are flown in fresh daily.

10-04-2010, 07:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
Cletus Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2009	Will begin taking stuff apart tonight, taking and posting pics as I go. I brought home all the wreckage so we could try to analyze what happened. So far, no evidence of main bearing failure (will change em out nonetheless), but the new CDT gear is locked-up maybe a factor? Although that RX connector should not have disconnected at the fadec on impact (it was too taught in the harness), turned out to be a good thing in this instance, as I'm sure it prevented a fire bu shutting down the turbine, as there was kero dripping at the crash-site. The engine looks unscathed except for a minor ding in the stbd exhaust. ........Will know more tonight Thanks for all the recommendations and kind words folks __________________ A helicopter in flight is a working demonstration of all the basic physical laws of the universe in action. Member: AMA 928457 - IRCHA 3449

10-04-2010, 08:40 AM	#16 (permalink)
v22chap Registered Users Join Date: Mar 2005	Sorry to hear about your troubles Cletus ... that sucks big time I don't mind crashing from a dumb thumb ... but this type of stuff makes me mad Keep the faith and get to working on it again and good luck __________________ Larry C Bergen R/C Helicopters Rotormast V - 22

10-04-2010, 10:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
Helihover Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008	No, no and double no I am really sorry to see your bird like this. This is the worst nightmare, but as others has pointed out you were luckey that there wasn`t a fire evolving. It will be interresting to see what caused this unfortunate accident. Good luck on you rebuild Now get it back together, and fly it again All the best from Norway.

10-04-2010, 09:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
deepak Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2007	Man oh Man...........Cletus I feel your pain! That was some serious vibration. On the bright side. The damage was at a minimum. She'll be back in due course. Laterz D __________________ deepak kirpalani Deepak.g.kirpalani@gmail.com

10-05-2010, 07:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
Cletus Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2009	This evening I had a chance to properly eyeball the wreckage and come-up with a list. Usual things really, boom shafts, torque tube, right lower frame, pitch-arms, blades, etc. The tanks are all dinged-up but reusable and the canopy can definitely be salvaged. Got quite a few bits and pieces in my spares stock already. Will finalize the list tomorrow and pop an e-mail order to Maryann. So, looks like i've got a project going on .........crap happens so damned fast! __________________ A helicopter in flight is a working demonstration of all the basic physical laws of the universe in action. Member: AMA 928457 - IRCHA 3449

10-05-2010, 10:28 PM	#20 (permalink)
Skiddz HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: May 2006	A possible fix for your tanks.. Plug 'em up good and fill them with water (leave a bit of an air gap, but not much) and freeeze 'em. The expanding water will take out most of the dings. __________________ -Kevin No helicopters were harmed in the creation of this post. AMA CD # 7309, Turbine Waiver# RW 890 Click Here For Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos

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