Post by Jerrymac on Jan 19, 2013 1:13:57 GMT -5
Sorry to hear of all the damage Phil. You sure it wasn't that "big ass fish" that I had heard about? 
My guess would be that the elevator bellcrank was not seated against the elevator arm before the screw was installed. With the screw being tight in the bellcrank it would give the illusion the it was screwed tightly into the arm.
I noticed that on one of my builds so I ran a small file through the bellcrank until the screw slid through it easily before I put it on. I didn't really pay attention to how much threads goes into the arm, but, I might have to check that now.
I did have the ball end break off of an elevator arm once a couple years ago. Gave my grandson a real scare when the helicopter stopped in mid flight and start zooming backwards toward him from the loss of elevator control. I was able to spin the tail and add some hard cyclic to get it somewhat level then hit TH. It came down rather softly nose first, then flipped over on it's head. Only damage was a bent flybar, and of course, the broken elevator arm.
Hope you get it repaired and back in the air.
My guess would be that the elevator bellcrank was not seated against the elevator arm before the screw was installed. With the screw being tight in the bellcrank it would give the illusion the it was screwed tightly into the arm.
I noticed that on one of my builds so I ran a small file through the bellcrank until the screw slid through it easily before I put it on. I didn't really pay attention to how much threads goes into the arm, but, I might have to check that now.
I did have the ball end break off of an elevator arm once a couple years ago. Gave my grandson a real scare when the helicopter stopped in mid flight and start zooming backwards toward him from the loss of elevator control. I was able to spin the tail and add some hard cyclic to get it somewhat level then hit TH. It came down rather softly nose first, then flipped over on it's head. Only damage was a bent flybar, and of course, the broken elevator arm.
Hope you get it repaired and back in the air.
