Maiden flight, Maiden crash!

[spootman]

Hey all just like the title says got it in the air on the first pack and crashed it on the second. Was adjusting the gyro(inertia 860) and did a punch out to see if the tail would blow out and my tail went nuts. It was wagging really hard about 6 inches each direction, I fought it for a good minute and it still wouldn't stop. I got it as close to the ground as possible and hit throttle hold and then it hit . Damage doesn't look too bad maybe shafts and one blade grip. On the upside I think I'm gonna really like this one, once I get it fine tuned it'll fly nice me thinks.

[srhadden]

My guess is the gain is set way to high. I remember that behavior with the Protos when I first got it and it drove me nuts. Only one time did the wagging create an oscillation like in your case and wouldn't stop.

Took me a hell of a long time to smooth the tail mechanics out before it was all fixed up. Good luck.

[boO!]

When the tail starts oscillating like that, if you were in stunt mode, it actually helps to lower the HS by whacking it in normal mode....

Mine did that the other day when coming out of a flip... wouldnt stop so I just hit stunt mode back into norm and it went away..... landed and adjusted gain.

Goodluck on your next flight. You will love your protos =)

[spootman]

It was due to a new gyro and not familiar with the set up, I goofed when changing a setting and changed the wrong one. The setting I changed created too much bounce back and that started the ping pong match with the tail. I was only in normal mode and could barley hold it(fingerprints still in the back of the 9303). I did have a wag with it and my gain was turned all the way down to 15(using endpoints) and it still had a small wag.

The damage wasn't bad, one blade grip, main shaft, one mixing arm (no where to be found) tail boom, fly bar and vertical tail fin.

[Mike Fortin]

If you can share your settings on the LCD I will be glad to assist you with proper setup.

We offer full time support with our products via telephone or email you can get all of the contact info at www.InertiaRC.com

[OnTheSnap]

I have the pg-8 0 0 which is the same gyro. Stick with all the defaults except direction and tail limits. I find this works great. Same exact settings for my Spartan as well. What a strange coincedence! Weird, the stick programming is the same as well! It's like they have the same software!

[Mike Fortin]

The 2 gyros that you mentioned are different and have different software.

Also, the Inertia is not stick programmable.

The CSM, Spartan and Inertia all share similar values and setups.

[OnTheSnap]

Hmm, you must have asked SJGD to remove it from the firmware since it made it obvious it's running the Spartan software, since the stick programming is very unique in behavior. BTW, I love my PG-8 0 0 on my T450 V3, this is not a knock against any of the gyros. Just my speculation based on my experience with the PG-8 0 0. Now that I'm flying hard backwards, I've really grown to appreciate it. All 3 are awesome gyros! I've recently added a GY520 to my T600, and I actually like the feel much better then my Spartan or PG-8 0 0.

Soon, my Protos will shed it's antiquated single axis Spartan gyro in favor of a mini-V. I was considering an Axiom, but it seems the schedule continues to slip, you never posted the manual as you promised, and I'm growing impatient. And I think I'd rather go with something that's proven and already has great community support. $125 difference isn't enough to sway me. Plus the axiom can't link with satellite receivers and the wiring mess stinks.

[spootman]

Alright , got it back together today and the weather looks good. Getting ready to go out and I notice my fly bar carrier is broken, DOH! I should have known better to check it since the head is almost identical to my blade and that usually breaks in a crash.

[spootman]

Went back out today and had the same problem. Went back to the default settings and it still wags hard after a piro or punch out and won't stop until I land (which is fun when its going nuts). On the up side, the little bit of hovering I did was really nice . Felt really smooth and stable and at the same time I could tell I could get into trouble quick with it. People weren't lying when they said the stock motor gets hot.

[Mentalic]

I'd suggest you check the tail shaft for binding the pitch slider. Recently replaced my tail shaft and had to polish it with 600 wet/dry sandpaper until a mirrors glaze to stop the constant wag problem. In my case I could not feel the binding until I clamped it to my bench, removed the mains, then spun up the heli while moving the tail pitch push rod. Then I could feel it stick then release. Also figured out that if you twist the brass pitch slider on the shaft you could get about the same binding, just have to press it hard.

Whats really amazing to me is the brass pitch slider will scratch the tail shaft.. The tail shaft is apparently very soft steel, too soft IMHO. It went from mirror finish to looking like a steel wool polish in a very short time.

[spootman]

Thanks for the reply, everything is moving freely on the tail. If it was binding than I would imagine I would have this problem the whole time and not only after doing a piro or punch out.

[povern]

I've had gyros do taht hard back and forth, usually I just put in tenough tail to spin it 90 degrees and the gyro kind of resets istelf, and is good.

Won't hurt to give it a try.

povern

[OnTheSnap]

Very strange. It really sounds like a simple gain problem. Perhaps it's much higher then you think?

Or the quality control is piss poor on the Inertia stuff. Maybe try it on another heli if you run out of ideas.

[precV]

Are you sure your gyro gain lead is plugged into the right channel? I had a similar problem and in my case it turned out to be the wrong channel. I realize this is not very likely, but wouldn't hurt to check.

-John

[Mentalic]

Originally Posted by spootman

Thanks for the reply, everything is moving freely on the tail. If it was binding than I would imagine I would have this problem the whole time and not only after doing a piro or punch out.

Not necessarily, hovering tail pitch area may not be binding, at the extents it may. It takes very little to cause a problem.

[spootman]

Everything is free from binding on the pitch slider, I took it apart and set it up again last night to make sure. I lowered the gain a bit and took it out for three packs and it was fine with the exception of some fine tuning that needs to be done. So hopefully the problem is fixed , just to be safe I'll take it easy on it for a while. So either the gain was too high or I fixed something when I set the tail up again. Thanks again for the help.

[Mentalic]

I'm going with you fixed something in the tail. In the 462 flights I currently have on my Protos the tail wag has reoccurred many times across three different gyros. Keep the tail clean and oiled well.. Your gonna love the heli!

[spootman]

Well for now its fixed(fingers crossed) but I still don't think this one was mechanical but I guess you never know. And I already like this heli....alot . I kept the head speed down until I knew I wasn't gonna get the death wag, after it tested okay I bumped it back up and wow! This thing was moving like I lit a fire cracker under its arse!