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<DIV>I am wrong below in regard the fail safe in regard the fail safe. The fail safe is programmed to cut the engine and set the control surfaces at neutral. </DIV>
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<DIV>Vicente "Vince" Bortone</DIV>
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<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message -------------- <BR>From: vicenterc@comcast.net <BR>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Yes, yesterday afternoon I lost my Abbra. I was doing the 45 degree down with snap. After the snap, I could not control the plane. This is my recollection of events:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">1. I over rotated the snap for a kittle more than 90 degrees. It was clear to me at that early stage that something was going wrong. I snapped to the right. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">2. My friend Charlie was calling for me. He also noticed and said something to put it back in position. I told him that the plane was not responding. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">3. First reaction was to give full left to get it back upright. The ailerons did not respond. When I realized that, I tried to take it out of the dive by given down elevator since was pracically in inverted position. It did not respond. It that aptitude everything goes very fast. Finally, I tried to give up elevator but was already too late. I am aware that I applied these control input. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was clear to me that there was no reaction. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was able to realize that I didn't have control and I could not avoid the crash. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">4. I did not have time to do anything with rudder and throttle. Throttle was at idle. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">5. When we checked the crash site. One aileron servo was buzzing hard. I disconnected the servo. Therefore, my first impression that the battery flew off and it got disconnected with the force of the snap was not valid.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">6. I took the plane home as it came from the crash.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I disconnected only the ailerons servos. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I checked the radio and everything is working fine. Only two servos are not working. The throttle servo that was practically destroyed in the crash and one aileron servo that the gears were stripped.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I believe that this was caused by the force of the impact. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was not evidence of flutter in the ailerons before the crash or structural damage after coming out of the snap.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">7.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I believe that the plane was well over stall speed after the snap. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Therefore, the plane was not in stalled condition.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, I could be wrong.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">7. I use JR all around with digital servos. PCM receiver with fail safe programmed to cut engine and leave the servos in the last commanded position. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">8. I use 2300 mah NiMh battery (4 cells AA Sanyo). I checked the battery voltage and was at 5.15 volts after the crash. Discharged the battery and gave 1540 mah using 250mah rate. I am planning to cycle the battery with higher loads. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">9. It was very hot day. The plane was sitting in the sun and it was second fly of the day around 2:00 PM. Easily was close to 100 oF. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">At this point, I have to admit that has to be pilot error since I have not been able to find a definitive cause of the crash. It is clear that the snap initiated some kind of failure. Other pilots think that the NiMh battery gave up at high currents during the snap and caused the crash. I have been flying this type of battery for two years now with no problems. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I am informing this to the group since I would like to have your feedback. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If someone had a similar problem and found the cause of the crash, please let me know. I am going back to my backup plane (the old hydeout). I have a brand new Abbra so need to put it together. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Thanks and have a nice day,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Vicente Bortone<o:p></o:p></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>