Not my fault, but my fault...

I am sooo tired of this crashing yip I've developed, so much so I even gave up blogging and pouted for 10 days. This one isn't my fault, but is my fault.

Lost my new 20cc Pitts Model 12 to a build failure back, on 10/7/21.  At least it wasn't pilot error. Still hurts. Took off, had a blast flying the pattern for about 10 minutes with a couple of landing-turn-around-takeoffs, then flew 10 minutes of intense aerobatics. Finally turned downwind, coming down nicely, slowing turn to base leg, and she kept descending, applied more and more up elevator without a response, wings wiggled when asked, 3 F-bombs later she hit the ground. I had no elevator control. Hit the ground with quite a thump in a smooth continous descent.

Beautiful fun plane, my RCGF-USA 20cc Nitroplanes Pitts Model 12.

Wish I had another one.

Can you see the crash site, about a quarter mile out? 

That's a wet ditch without a bridge...

Can you see it now?

How about now? The debris field was at least 30 feet long.

Initial impact site.

Bounced about 30-40 feet...

The cowl turned back into fiberglass cloth. Engine was underneath.  

The rest was back in a different  zip code.

Internals are okay.  Not sure if there is supposed to be a light on with these new recievers.

Left the transmitter for the "swim" across the ditch, so couldn't test it.

Power was good. 

Only 47 frames lost, no holds. Not the radio system.

This was the culprit. The weak elevator horn attachment that I knew was weak, built it up, still thought I should throw a Dubro on it, but didn't. That's why its my fault. I knew there was a problem, and I ignored it. Crap.

Knowing it wasn't a pilot error, I spent the next hour flying 6 packs on my Trex 600e FBL. This flawless experience gave me solace.

Lesson learned. Looking for a 20cc  biplane...

Kinda tired of all the crashing...

It wasn't too bad today. There was no wind, no gusts to deal with. A light rain interrupted us, but that was over in about 15 min

Bill Renault sat out the rain with me. I have a weather radar app so we were able to predict it coming and stop flying, and knew when we could start up again. I had gotten a couple of flights in on the Ultra Stick, and one on the heli before the break.

Bil flying Ol'Skool 72 mHz!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rccrashes/

I am getting a little tired of my crash trend lately. My membership in SAD really isn't that important to me, so I honestly would like to stop maintaining it...

At the end of a long 20 min flight, one of several, I did a poorly executed hammerhead. Poorly executed because I threw in too much rudder and it pin-wheeled! Over corrected, and by the time I caught up with the airplane I ran out of altitude. I did manage to avoid a fence-posting crash, but the front end is smashed up and, well, you can see... Lost one of my 4 inch Sullivan tires out there. Searched twice, could not find it.

Yeah... thats not gonna buff out, This is going to be repairable, but its also going to be a winter project. 

On the bright side I flew my Align Trex 600e FBL (Its not DFC, though the stock canopy says it is). Its my favorite heli. Well, it and its twin at home, my flybarred Trex 600e Pro. I really want to add a 700, but thats gonna cost some coin so it will be awhile.

3 flights, flew it 10S today, sport. Felt confident and really enjoyed it!

My goal is to fly  heli every time I fly. Maybe the 450's next time? Squirrley birds, thos 450's. 

Landing my helis intact after a full 5 min flight is awesome. Doing it three times with no unplanned departures from controlled flight, flying all 6 5S packs, priceless. Worth the wind down vid after the last flight.

I left the Pitts Model 12 20cc in the car, didn't want to deal with the wing setup in the possible rain, and didn't want to risk adding it to my SAD Manifest. I didn't unload it from the car when I got home, optimistic I may have a chance I  the next day or two to fly again.