The Most Spectacular Crash in 2013.

[gordonbw]

Eric... which radio caused the nastiness???

[eric]

It was a JR 9303 and about 5 years old. Up until that point the transmitter had been flawless. I'd already flown for a few hours that day some old, cheapy models with no problems, so the fact that it chose the moment I had the Norseman up to go south makes it a heart breaker.

Eric

[Wingnutz]

Although I'm no expert and think Eric is right in suspecting the tx, the rx in Eric's Norseman was an AR 500 a receiver that has cost me three models (not this year, so I can't qualify for 2013 honours). My best effort this year was a tail heavy maiden which ended with a disconnected LG...I'll have to become "more expert" at crashing next year!

[eric]

I was unaware of the problems other people have had with that receiver or I wouldn't have used it, but I've used one other AR500 in another plane (dozens of flights) with no issues whatsoever. I know its a transmitter problem because, after the crash,  numerous range checks with other models that have many different series of receivers all yielded the same result - loss of control at about 25 - 30 feet and the motors cycling up and down. The only common denominator is the transmitter.

I even hooked up the receiver that was in the Norseman in another model to check it out. With my DX9 the range checks are perfect so that's one more finger pointing at the transmitter as the problem. I've since thrown both AR500's in the garbage anyway - better safe than sorry!

Eric