Pitch slider failure = crash!

[Integrity Handywork]

Originally Posted by Integrity Handywork

I just had this same exact failure yesterday on my fairly new X5. Maybe 2.5 months old. 132 flights @ 6m each. approx 13 flight hours. How many flights / flight hours would most of you account before the failure? I was very lucky compared to some others, or so it appears. I felt a odd inconsistency in the heli while trying to do funnels. Then i felt it twitch. When it started to spin a little later i managed to throttle cut and AR to the ground safely. But this could have been very expensive if it violently let loose. I don't know if the recall pertains to me or what it will solve. New spare part maybe? I will be contacting the distributor i purchased my X5 from. (clubheli).

The slider broke in the same spot as others.

http://youtu.be/kex68IBTz-8

Well i just wanted to come back and give an update on my situation with this tail slider thing. I still have not contacted Empire but i have been flying on the X5/NX4 tail pitch slider that i purchased from Anythingheli immediately after the failure. It did come assembled.

My original slider failed on flight 132. I can proudly say i have just passed flight 500 and there is no signs of any issue so far, not that i had any warning previously. I am however being MUCH more diligent in cleaning the sand and grit off my tail box and slider. Since i fly in florida, the fields i'm at have basically beach sand and also when it becomes dry a fine powdery dust from the black soil (non magnetic). I don't know if it helped wear the bushing out or not. But i keep it much better cleaned and lubricated now. Even though the last time the shaft was soaked in oil from oiling my tail box bearings. I have since switched to sealed ABEC-5 bearings on the TT and tail box. With any luck, not oiling these sealed ABEC rated bearings will keep things cleaner with less maintenance overall. Because the original tail bearings had become gritty and rough feeling anyway (flange bearings on the X5 tail box, not integrated box).

Originally Posted by GasNerd

@Integrity Handywork,

JC from Empire/Gaui should be able to help you - he has been very helpful with me and especially with this issue and getting me the replacements.
I feel much better with my NX4 now with the new slider!! Great support from JC/Empire/Gaui!

If you still don't feel comfortable, Luca Invernizzi from Lynx told me that they have a replacement tail slider coming right after the Chinese holiday! I may try that on one of my NX4's at some point as I have been pretty happy with the Lynx stuff that I have experience with.

-GN

I suppose i will just go ahead and send them an email. You know, Gaui had a tail bush part for sale for the hurricane model previously. I saw them for sale at Empire, Anythingheli and others following the outcry of this situation. But i have not recently seen them in stock anywhere and it appears i missed my chance to grab a few of these parts up. So i instead just ordered another spare slider. It seems as though the tail bushing part is no longer in production because it's been more than a month since i've seen them in stock anywhere.


I have to agree with the Lynx upgrade parts. I don't have much experience with their stuff, but i just received a 3K vertical tail fin they produce for the X5. I have not installed it yet. I purchased it for about $7 and the stock $20 tail fin set too. I cracked the thin piece of my original tail fin doing AR practice landings. It's still sturdy and strong so i'm sticking with it for a while. At least until i can paint the new ones. But i was VERY pleasantly surprised to see that the Lynx fin is just as thick and just as nice as the original CF fin. I used to cut a lot of my helicopter tail fins like the Lynx fin shape, for the same reasons they mention in the web add. Less airflow restriction, less weight, and i think it looks better being narrow too. Over all i can't complain, and for less than half what the stock tail fins cost, but should be just as durable without the extra horizontal fin i don't need. These will be perfect for AR training So i will be looking forward to seeing more parts made by them.

[u8at711]

My 94th flight had a hard landing, broke tail fin, auto gear, tail servo horn.
The 95th flight about 30 seconds in. Tail slider broke.
I was inverted and it started to piro, hit throttle hold and autoed, broke land gear and TT gear,
On the positive side. That was my first inverted auto
My kit was in the first release, and my previous flight may have damaged the part.

Sad note. It was my first flight on 30% nitro this year and it was flying amazing !

[fireblade812]

I bought the NX4 in May and unfortunately I have the same issue like all others. I get a new pitch slider from my vendor immediately...my question is, how do I know this is not the over tightened version which is safe to use?

[FlyawayClyde]

Hey fire blade,
I dont think you really have anyway to know, at least till GAUI does a recall on the parts in question. And completly offers a new design.
I have modified my tail to accept a Thunder Tiger X50 tail hub, Grips and slider. I still have yet to fly mine because of a bent Crankshaft I have on my Engine.
Good Luck sir.
Erik

[tauscnc]

Originally Posted by fireblade812

I bought the NX4 in May and unfortunately I have the same issue like all others. I get a new pitch slider from my vendor immediately...my question is, how do I know this is not the over tightened version which is safe to use?

You don't.. JC said they changed the pitch of the threads and brass type from what he heard/knew, but when I got mine there was no way to tell it was a newer version. No sticker, notch, engraving, nothing. It is still in the bag. I just can't take the risk and just don't trust that tail setup on the NX4.

I went with the X50 raptor tail hub and brass sleeve and fork. 4 flights and so far so good.

I am almost up to 10 non-interrupted flights!!! wowowowhhoooww... sigh

[fireblade812]

Thanks Erik and tauscnc for your advice.

This is my first "serious" heli as I'm new to heli world. I love the design and outlook of this bird so I really want to make it fly with full confidence. I will give it one more chance before switching to the X50 tail hub you guys suggested.

Luckily this time I only broke my tail blades. I need Gaui's blessing for the next!

[crickr1]

Originally Posted by fireblade812

Thanks Erik and tauscnc for your advice.

This is my first "serious" heli as I'm new to heli world. I love the design and outlook of this bird so I really want to make it fly with full confidence. I will give it one more chance before switching to the X50 tail hub you guys suggested.

Luckily this time I only broke my tail blades. I need Gaui's blessing for the next!

Nothing for nothing, If you had a slight tail mishap on stock tail, I would replace. They are not known to be "bulletproof" by any mean. With that being said, poor,weak design, a slight tail mishap could put added stress on an already inferior part and cause crash.
Tauscnc, myself and few others had not only slider failures but also spindle failures on flight. IMO, would not trust it after a tail scrape.

[tauscnc]

I couldn't agree more with crickr1!!

I'd just replace it now before it ends up in a $200 crash. Plus this being your first serious bird we all want you to have a great experience and especially with nitro. I also love the design, look, and idea of this smaller nitro ship. I just wish Gaui did a bit more on this subject.

I m using the Gaui grips with the X50 hub. You just need to put newer larger ID bearings in the inner part. This is in the Gaui=Junk thread. Read the last two pages.