X50 is ONE TUFFA$$ heli

[Rob43]

We were flying yesterday at an alternative site until our club site dries out. Was flying mostly circuits since I am breaking in a new YS 60sr. Was going great, tuning needles, and just flying around. Your basic good time on a day off...

When all of a sudden...BANG!

I crashed into a lamp post! A BIG one! We were standing near one, and I was coming in for the landing, talking to my friend...just foregoing my concentration...and I hit it. It hit the ground and I was in total SHOCK! Obviously, I had begun to tune out the lamp posts. I never saw it hit...which means I had my eyes off the machine, while talking...

BONE HEAD!

Here's the silver lining...blades, skids, main grip levers/links, and road rash to the Hatori. THAT"S IT! Obviously, I was way luckier than I deserved to be. We just looked at each other...did that just happen? LOL.

X50: One tuff mutha!

[Don S]

I've bent a head block twice. It's not easy to see that it's bent. Something to consider if you have any post rebuild wobbles.

[Rob43]

Thanks. I ordered the shafts anyway. I have a dial indicator I can use to check with as well. Still, even if they were bent, I was astonished how little damage.

[skytrekin]

Glad you are enjoying it!
I have crashed mine a few times getting to low and am always amazed how tough it is.

[Elgyn]

I did a backwards roll into a tree. Bent the flybar broke the skids and lower frame

[Rob43]

No apparent post crash artifacts so far. Just engine tuning at this point. So far, I am very pleased with the model. Pretty easy to work on. Engine drops out easily too.

[Rob43]

Well, I discovered some damage last night while I was putting the finishing touches on installing another engine. From this crash a month ago, I apparently had a bent swash plate. I discovered it when I threw a swash leveler on to recheck level through travel. I could figure out why the swash leveler was so far from three point contact, when the swash was level by eyeball. It was flying great, but the right side ball was probably 1.5mm out of whack. I straightened it, and reinstalled it and it was fine again. I can't recall reveling the swash, but I must have when I repaired it. Obviously, I had not used the tool at that point.

Only thing that has been perplexing, is the fan hub. With thread lock on the retainer nut, the whole assembly has backed off a couple of times now. When it does this, it tries to spread the frames apart vertically binding everything. I took it back apart and loctited everything back together and flew it. Was fine again. I think what might cause it is if the engine gets hydrolocked, the starter can "break" it free. This had just happened, so I am pretty sure it was the cause. I wish they had the pinch bolt design like some others, such as Align, as I think it has a better grip. What sux, is if it hydrolocks, it's bound to happen, and the engine has to come out. I will have to be more careful when starting...maybe leave the Dynatron aside for this engine and use the Align starter. Or maybe, I will assemble with red Loctite and make sure it can't happen.

[Commodore8888]

Definitely use at least some 262 red on the fan hub. 242/243 doesn't take heat all that well.
Beware 271 red as you'll need a torch or powerful soldering iron/oven to get it off later.

The only real weakpoint Montee and I have found on this heli is the landing gear and bottom plate. The gear has no flex, then snaps. Sometimes punches your pipe, sometimes busts a bottom plate.

I'm thinking find a set of gorilla gear or tuff struts and call it a day

[Rob43]

I busted the gear in the crash, but no other real tests of them yet. There are few other skids that could work. Align struts are really tough too. I sort of like the snap catch the canopy has on them...maybe it's not necessary when the rear grommets are tight on the posts.

[Commodore8888]

+1 on the Aligns. I may try to retrofit those on as I have a pile I never used from a 600N. The way they would snap would also save the pipe from getting punched by landing gear.