Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

Not related to jets but should be noted, anything can happen out there guys. Lets pay attention out there.

V..

Subject: Accident
> >
> >
> > > > Dear Members of the IMAA Board
> > > >I have been notified of a horrific accident that happened over the
> > > >weekend
> > > in Wakeman, Ohio. A good friends of mine Casey Rowe and Brian Striker
> > > who have flown together for years encountered what we have all talked
> > > about at our Board meetings for months, What if one of these 42%
> > > aircraft hit someone? Well Brian had a 42% Oracle Bi-plane as it took
> > > off he lost control of the aircraft. Casey who was over 300ft away
> > > sitting under his tent, stood up and looked at what was transpiring and
> > > before he know it, tried to leap away from the incoming 47# 80 mph 42%
> > > biplane but to no avail. He was struck in the back the carbon fiber prop
> > > cut through his back into his kidneys, severed his leg almost completely
> > > off. They called 911 and he was transported by life flight to Cleveland
> > > metro where he is in stable condition. I talked to Casey today and he
> > > wants everyone to know that his can happen to anyone. These guys are
> > > professional RC pilots and use the best equipment!! Casey is lucky to
> > > be!
> > > >alive and is very shaken by the whole incident. I wished him our
> > > >best on
> > > behalf of the IMAA. I would like to work with the AMA safety committee
> > > and really look into a way to police ourselves. We and Casey are lucky
> > > no one was killed. If we do not put restrictions and more failsafe
> > > measures in effect on ourselves then I feel the FAA and other government
> > > agencies will do it for us. I feel this was our wakeup call I hope we
> > > can all work together on these issues.
> > > >
> > > >Sincerely,
> > > >
> > > >IMAA President
> > > >Tom Hayden # 5138
>

ghost_rider

My Feedback: (20)

I wish him speedy recovery.

JetflyerJ

My Feedback: (67)

Oh My God !!!!!!!!!


I'm speechless, I hope he recovers soon and I wish him the very best. Talk about a wake up call.....



Johnny Hernandez

BiplaneCrasher

What happened to the failsafe?

Any Godspeed on your recovery!

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

Is this related to the same problem at Heart of Ohio Jet meet? Sounds similar!!

J. Campbell

My Feedback: (31)

Just an example of why not ONLY jet pilots should be singled out for waivers??? Hope he lives, he will never forget that one though. Russ

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

Terrible I wish them both well. Imagine the feeling of hitting someone like that.

Between this and that heart of ohio stuff, these narrowband radios have got to go.

ghost_rider

My Feedback: (20)

mr_matt

When are you guys going to release the new radio?

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Oh man, this is horrible I can only think of him when this was happening, I wish him a speedy recovery and a healthy life after that. This makes me think about not taking my kid to the field, I have one only and I can not even think of him having an accident like this one.

Casey get well soon.

CARS II

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

I meant to edit that out, I do not want this to be some sort of commercial after a near tragedy.

Just so you know a couple of other companies are working on the same thing, except starting with RC cars. Bob and I have not had time to work on prototype 2 for a few months now, starting on it again soon.

MHall

My Feedback: (7)

I think they should get rid of the carbon fiber props!! If it had been a wood prop the damage to him may have been much less. They spell it out loud and clear that we can't run metal props but carbon fiber can be just as deadly!!!!
I hope he recovers quickly and all is well. [8D]

lov2flyrc

My Feedback: (24)

Just how would a "waiver" have prevented this. High time pilot had no control? Failsafe is what could have prevented this.....

Tragic, He's in our prayers......
Todd

Gordon Mc

My Feedback: (11)

I wish Casey all the best for a speedy and full recovery.

I'd also like to know what the failsafe settings were, that allowed the aircraft to keep flying that far from the takeoff with the engine running. After the tragic death of young Adam Kirby some years ago, the Brits learned the high price of having poorly set failsafe controls. I hope this wasn't a similar cause, since IMO there's no valid reason for it taking multiple targedies for us to take notice.

Gordon

J. Campbell

My Feedback: (31)

A waver would not have prevented this, i was leaving it up to your imagination of how stupid it is to make us have waivers when so many other MORE deadly senarios are out there in the hobby. I Hope he will recover from this, and to the above poster, YES i agree carbon fiber props and aluminum spinners should be dissallowed. Russ

J. Campbell

My Feedback: (31)

Luvtofly, The post stated he LOST contol, i assume that lost control means lost control on takeoff, if so and most likely so, no failsafe would have prevented this. Russ

Gordon Mc

My Feedback: (11)

I disagree. For a draggy aircraft like a 42% biplane to travel over 300 ft after takeoff, takes a fair amount energy. If the cause of the incident was signal loss or interference at takeoff, then having the failsafe set to kill the engine (or even just set to idle) could well have prevented the aircraft traveling that far. (I say could, rather than would, as we obviously do not have all of the data about this incident.)

Note that I am not saying this to add to the bad feelings of the pilot of the aircraft, but to make a point about how important it is for all of us to think seriously about what failsafe settings we use. All too often when I hear people discussing failsafe settings, it is from the viewpoint of what might save the aircraft rather than what may save someone's life.

Gordon

BCherry

My Feedback: (2)

jrc316..... Why should they ban aluminum spinners. how could a plastic spinner help? I agree with the carbon prop ban. . one last thing I hope for a speedy recovery for the poor guy. But we all know the dangers of flying our planes, small or large. And it just shows we get a little too comfortable and forget how dangerous they can be. Hopefully we can find ways to make this great hobby a little safer. Brad

J. Campbell

My Feedback: (31)

Yes, gordon a failsafe WOULD have prevented this IF it was an interference problem that caused this. Nothing in the original post says this, it implies that the pilot simply LOST the airplane and hit his buddy while trying to recover. Failsafes are a good thing, i always set mine to kill engine when i fly PCM rx. Russ

J. Campbell

My Feedback: (31)

I was just going on the fact you are not allowed to have a metal prop or metal protruding from the front of aircraft. The plastic spinner will break, the aluminum will Penetrate. Russ

jetflyer

My Feedback: (5)

I wish him a speedy recovery. Such a tragedy.

With a flip of a switch I can shutdown my turbine from the TX. I believe all Big Bird or TOC type planes should have some measure of killing the engine from the TX.

JR Gautreaux

8178

My Feedback: (17)

What a sad and terrible tragedy. Think of the horrible impact of this on the Casey Rowe family. This should be a big reality check for a number of groups within R/C community but as usual I expect nothing will change. I don’t see any discussion about this on the RCU Giant Aircraft section?

Jerry Sigur

This only works if your equipment is funtioning properly, or if you have a failsafe
programmed to do it.

Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

Radio lockout, loss of steering or dumb thumbs, whatever the case that size prop can sure slice thru a crowd with tragic effect. With out some quick action this poor guy could have bled to death right there at the field. We have lots of "bigplane" guys at our club field, i hear we are going to add some safety measures as a result of this accident.
V..

whiteside

My Feedback: (5)

Anyone know if his family has an address so we can send the guy some well-wishes and money?
Will Whiteside

BiplaneCrasher

My opinion on the CF prop are mixed. This accident although painfull to one fella is also uncommon. Forbidding the use of certain items is just the start of communist beggining of controling us. This would hurt more than just a few pilots. It would be the equivelent of the PMRC is the music industry.

I don't understand why the pilot has not tried to defend himself, other than taking time off for grief. yet we are here yapping about what should have happened. I also use the failsafe on all my PCM aircraft. I also make sure my son is educated when someone new or some hotdog from the club taking to the air. The two fields I fly at have no netting by request of the landlord. Therefore, unless he is in the truck watching, he has his eyes on the aircraft and preparing to himself incase he has to run. Have you ever seen a .90 heli with a bad Rx glitch? It is very scary when all you have is a folding chair to hide behind. After that happened I am scared for my son also.

The fact that someone was hurt is unfortunate. I would probably be mad at the world also. But it was an accident. You don't see Sears removing car jacks from the store because one guy was crushed, right? Turbines, CF props and whatever else is dangerous, should always be used with extreme safety. I do not have a need for CF props. Maybe a turbine in the future for a scale heli or photo chopper. They still should not be banned due to one accident.

Beware of the new guy, or hotdog in the club that either does not know any better, or cares more about showing off than maintaining his aircraft. In this caes nither of those reasons apply. I remember the accident from last year with Ron Kyle who was nearly decapatated with an RC heli. We can only hope that is kept to a minimum.

Where was the safety netting?

Why was there no Spotter?

Where was the Safety Officer?

Lets use common sense and look out for each other. If we keep getting hit with accidents and fruitcakes trying to take out the President of the US with RC planes, we will no longer have a hobby.