ImRich
Veteran
Location: Derry, NH USA
| Fail Safe settingsI want to point out that there are no default Fail Safe settings that you can or should rely on!
Even if the default factory FS (Fail Safe) setting for throttle was 'low' that may translate to full throttle on your particular heli. The setting and direction may be different depending on linkages, etc.
This is why we have programmable servo reversing, ATVs, etc.
Always be sure to program your Fail Safe settings. Remember, nothing will save your heli from damage if you lose control of it.
I believe that the best way is to set the controls to center the cyclic and tail rotor, set the collective to just below hover pitch (or zero if you like) and then set the engine to idle speed (I believe that the engine is the most important settings). If you prefer the other controls to hold, that's fine, but just remember to set the throttle to idle.
Always test the fail safe setting (with the engine off the first time) by moving your throttle stick to full (full collective), have your receiver on, turn off your transmitter and watch your servos. The important thing to watch is that the throttle arm on your engine goes to the idle position.
It's dangerous to test the FS with the engine running, so if you want to do this, be sure that no one else is around and nothing is near the heli that could be damaged. Do this only after doing an engine off test first. Get the engine spooled up on the ground with collective just below where the heli is starting to get light on its skids and turn off your transmitter. If programmed correctly your engine should go to idle. I don't recommend engine on fail safe tests unless you are very aware of all your settings and know what you are doing.
The idea behind Fail Safe is to make minimal damage to other peoples property or personal injury, not to save your aircraft! Minimizing damage to your aircraft is secondary to damage to others.
I always laugh when someone says they want to program their Fail Safe to minimize damage to their expensive helicopter. Just feel lucky if your expensive heli goes down and only damages itself. If it damages someone elses property (car, home, etc), or causes personal injury, you'll be in much worse shape.
This is the same reason why in the USA we have separate frequencies for aircraft which is separate from land based devices. It's not to keep a ground based device from causing an aircraft owner from having to spend money on repairs, it's to help keep a ground based device from causing an aircraft to go out of control and causing damage or injury to an unexpecting third party. The damage to a flying aircraft is secondary to the protection of life or property of others.
So please remember to think about others safety when particpating in this flying activity.
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Rich |
