June 24 - Lost Decathlon

[Andrew Fernie]

I lost my Decathlon today - reached for the trim and hit the TX power switch instead. Turned it back on, but too late. It was beyond the trees and descending, roughly 90 degrees to the runway. The attached map gives an idea of where I thought it was going.

It has an 80" wingspan and is red and white, so you would think it should be easy enough to find, but no luck so far. Thanks to everyone who went out and battled their way through the brush. I will give it a try again tomorrow...

Andrew

[briankizner]

I know the feeling. Wish I could help. Good luck.

[Xavier]

I am going to the field in a few minutes with my onboard camera and a laptop. Hopefully we could see it from upthere.
I should be there around 6:30 until dark.

Xavier

[beto9]

The Decathlon is big.... and the bush is relentless... great idea Xavier... hope you find it Andrew!

[Burning Head]

That a intel job for you Xavier:)you will need a buddy for the laptop vue during you control of the recherche:cool: good luck

[Andrew Fernie]

Dwight, Xavier, and David tracked it down this evening. Dwight's description was that it had hit a tree and exploded, scattering pieces over a wide area, and the RX was hanging from a branch about 6' up. It was more or less on the runway centerline, but a fair ways out, so it must have turned around before crashing.

At least the engine and radio are O.K., so I will stuff the radio into my Funtana.

Thank you to everyone who went out today. If you are like me you will be in shorts forthe next couple of days until your legs heal!

Andrew

[Burning Head]

The crach vue is it record Xavier and can we see the video:cool:, if it dont make Andrew sade :o

[Xavier]

I can't take the credit on that. It's all Dwight and David who went in the wood.
I took a video from the air and when I wanted to watch it my laptop batterie died. Denis had a regulator or something like taht to use the car batterie but I didn't have the cord for the laptop. Dwight called home and his son brought a laptop with the regulator so we could watch the video. Since I flew over the area shown on Andrew's image above, we can't see the plane as it wasn't found there. However, I think it could have worked. The best would be to have a direct link from the camera to the ground.
I am glad Andrew got his stuff back event if the plane is completely distroyed. I will let Andrew post pictures if he wants.
Xavier

[David Janashvili]

The pane is completely destroyed, same parts of the plane was hanging on the tree. The plane is total lost but electronics and the engine is looks good.
Andrew I am sorry for your lost….
David

[Sunfly]

Sorry for your adventure Andrew.

That is a lesson for me at least as I think my fingers were very close to the power switch last time I trimmed my airplane. It could have been me posting for that kind of incident. I think we all really have to make sure to feel the right button before pushing it. This is too easy to do in the fire of action.

Security wise I would suggest to trim the airplanes when it is going away from us and not when it is coming at us as it could terminate its trajectory in the pits or any populated area in a club near you.
Pilots be aware.

[AlixB]

about your loss Andrew. That was one sweet plane.

[bob forest]

Sorry about the crash Andrew, I guess that is why some of the new radios have the switch on the bottom right hand of the transmitter. I have a feeling you are not the first one to do that.

[xed]

I always try to trim my plane with the transmitter held up in my face, thus you do not have to turn your head down or feel for it and you can take your eyes off your plane for a split second to confirm your finger/thumb position.

Or better, ask for help....

[beto9]

I am trying to figure out this question of "hitting the power switch while attempting to trim the plane"! In my last two radios the power switch is really difficult to confuse with anything else...
I have hit the wrong function switch here and there because like Alix says, new radios are like porcupines... but the power switch?
What radio-model was Andrew? Was it the Royal?

Anyhow, forensics will not bring your beautyful plane back, I am sorry to say....

Have a good test of your receiver before reusing it....

[Dwight Macdonald]

It was David that first spotted it ... a pretty plane suddenly not so pretty any more ... the engine and electronics look good though.

[Burning Head]

:no:Holy sh.... I feel sade too now. I shoud not ask for any intel pic from the wimac task force the next time:( the survivor look not happy at all

[beto9]

I hope you did the usual offering to the gods by burning the remains while chanting...

[Andrew Fernie]

Well, after seeing that photo, if nothing else, I think that I will be a strong competitor for "crash of the year".

[Jeremy Cartlidge]

Andrew, sorry for the loss of your nice Decathlon. Some crash - I have never seen David look so glum.

[Andrew Fernie]

One other complication I realized today. My TX is set to start transmitting only with the throttle at idle. So, after I switched it back on I naturally had the throttle up high to get more power. It was beeping away at me as a warning that it wasn't transmitting, but my brain froze.

[matador_24]

Sorry Andrew, I think I got the crash of the year with my twin C160.... :o
People who saw it may tell...

[bob forest]

Here an idea for the club. Why don't we have three trophies, 1st,2nd and 3rd place. Crashes have to be photographed and posted. No matter how bad you feel. Then Greg will set up a voting system for the worst crash. The three worst would get a trophy based on the amount of votes. This way it would take the feel bad feeling away, that you might of carried all summer and fall, as the beautifull trophy would make you happy. At least you got something. You would be proud of your crash, you tell your friends, hey, it was not just some little crash, everyone spoke about it. Be proud. Myself I cut the tails off and I glue them to my wall in my garage. I have 6 of them.
Maybe at a winter get together, we would have the presentation. We have in 3rd place Charlie Smith, and a picture would be shown on the screen, then we have in second place Sydny SMith, and another presentation, and the winner for this year, the Worst Crash of the year goes to Jean Guy Smith, standing ovation.
So just an idea. The money has to go somewhere, this would be a good place. What do you think?

[Dwight Macdonald]

Hey Bob, that sounds like an interesting idea ... however, entry in the contest should be voluntary because some people may not want to remember their crashes ... but I'm sure it would be a lot of fun for those who want to participate.

[Dwight Macdonald]

Hey Bob, that sounds like an interesting idea ... however, entry in the contest should be voluntary because some people may not want to remember their crashes ... but I'm sure it would be a lot of fun for those who want to participate.

[beto9]

Sorry Luis, your C160 was destined to pancake from day one...

Andrew's was more spectacular.... not many big pieces left...

I'd rather not have an entry in Bob's contest.... I am not too competitive in that area.

[Andrew Fernie]

I am in for the contest. I only plan on one entry.

Andrew

[matador_24]

hehehehe, it sounds like a great idea! :o

Hey Beto, do not forget my fuselage was made of fiberglass and it can not break that much....... but the way how it crashed was amazing with the dead spiral crash... :D

[bob forest]

One important note, there would be no trophies or trophy for anyone that does not fly, thinks he saw a crash. We are talking Heli's and planes. The trophy could be made cheap. a wood base with a branch from a favorite tree, and a couple of ripped pieces of monokote. with a nice little brass plaque with name of trophy, place and name of pilot. I think it would be a lot of fun.

[bob forest]

Andrew, I was tell Ken Starkey our president of MRCC and it also happened to him 4 years ago on a float plane. did the same thing as you. So you are not alone, and he has heard that it has been done by quiet a few pilots. Again, look where the switches are on the new trans. lower left side.

[beto9]

I do not agree to have planes and helis together... Not in the same category.

Helis die a long death, very spectacular... doing the funky chicken.

Planes are more direct: splat! and all is over....

[briankizner]

Many of us have had bonehead crashes. I had one not too long ago because I stepped backwards, tripped on something, and dropped the transmitter. I actually managed to pick it up and might have saved the plane but the transmitter module (ie the crystal) had fallen out of the radio.

[bob forest]

Agree, then a trophy for the Heli's mabe a wooden base with just a broken part of a Heli.

[bob forest]

Brian, that has happened to me. I had a JR radio and the crystal popped out. Then what I did after that, was ducked tape the crystal, and it never happened again. Luckily for me when that happened I was on the ice and the place had not taken off and it just kept going in large circles and another member was there and I told him to run it down in his car, I did not want the plane to head toward the fishing village. Marty drove his car and by some miracle the propped stopped when it his his tire. It was my old Stearman.

[beto9]

Excellent anecdotes for the Insurance company....

Keep them coming!

[Xavier]

I am not sure the MAAC president will appreciate your contest Bob. From what I was told, we should not talk, show or think about any crashes or the insurance will go up .... :-)

[bob forest]

OK, no more crashes.

[Burning Head]

You can try to modify the reply Bob with the menu:) . It maybe to late

[bob forest]

It is not my title.