rc plane crash - 68% pitts challenger robbie skipton at raf cosford

[peter coxon]

[Phil 9]

he will need one big bin bag for that one

[MattyB]

A real shame, it was a lovely model. I don't think that is going to buff out!

Reading the video description, apparently a plug on one of the rear cylinders found it's way out on a previous pass, the model lost power and went in. Even so it is difficult to see what happened from that video as it doesn't show the runup to the crash - I know Pitts do tend to glide like bricks, but it seems to have come in from a height that should have allowed at least a wings level emergency put down even if it were downwind. I guess he must have not realised he had an engine issue and carried on with his routine, only for the engine to fail part way through a manoeuvre.

Edited By MattyB on 18/07/2016 15:52:50

[Bob Cotsford]

It looked to be deadstick to me, at least the prop appeared to be intact after the impact.

[Richard B (DB Sport and Scale Ltd)]

oh no. I saw the aftermath with people going to collect the wreckage but didn't know which model it was. Having enjoyed a brief sojourn out of my marquee to view it's display on the saturday, well, that is very very sad indeed.

[Eagle 899]

Saw his displays on Saturday and Sunday but I'm pleased that I missed the accident flight.

I saw Robbie on Saturday and asked him where the blue monster pilot was that used to be in the cockpit.
He told me that he took it out as it weighed three pounds.....see what happens without a pilot!

Seriously though, crying shame to total a super aircraft. I hope Robbie and his dad build another.

[Frank Skilbeck]

I was watching it, it appeared engine cut when low turning downwind, you can see pilot level the wings and then try to pull some up in and the wing stalling again. It was too low to get it back into wind and with out the engine didn't have enough speed to be able to pull out of the dive.

[cymaz]

Damn shame

[AndyD]

im crying and its not my model,i had a pitts special only 52 inch though and as you say glide and brick go to gether.

[Josip Vrandecic -Mes]

I feel awkward to watch and I can not imagine what the feelings of the owner...

[Barryorbik]

Terrible to see such a lovely aircraft destroyed but does anyone know the cause?

and does it really say 'skip' on the aircraft piece being carried to the trailer in the still photograph at the end of the video.

[ChrisB]

Posted by Barryorbik on 18/07/2016 20:55:53:

Terrible to see such a lovely aircraft destroyed but does anyone know the cause?

and does it really say 'skip' on the aircraft piece being carried to the trailer in the still photograph at the end of the video.

The cause was a spark plug coming loose and the engine dying.

Great shame, but its one of the pitfalls of the hobby unfortunately...those that have and those that will. Robbie will have another monster aerobatic plane in the air soon enough!

[Stuart Z]

So sad

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Darrell Woodward]

I was only reading a thread about this model on FlyingGiants / on the builders website a few days ago, What a shame

[cymaz]

 

 

If anyone is interested in the kit specs . HERE

Edited By cymaz on 19/07/2016 06:29:07

[Josip Vrandecic -Mes]

Hello Peter, 1.349.50 minus modeller work .... another strong reason to cry...

[Andy48]

If you read on that £1349 is just the 50% deposit.

[Bob Cotsford]

Here's the real killer - Robbie has a wrap graphic of the model covering the back of his van. Guess he'll need to replace the wrap now. Good job that's his main business

[Darrell Woodward]

Posted by Andy48 on 19/07/2016 12:56:56:

If you read on that £1349 is just the 50% deposit.

£1349 is the kit price, purchaser has to put 50% deposit down to initiate cutting.

[bigbubba]

He is Skip model designs though isn't he? This makes the retail price of the kit less relevant.

Still a shame it went in though.

[Pete B]

Looks like £2699 + shipping to me....

Pete

[Adrian Smith 1]

You must have read more onto the short clip of the pilot than me Owdlad. How could you ascertain that the pilot looks nervous on the sticks? The only obvious thing was the guy speaking in his left ear which was probably a distraction. The pilot seemed perfectly fine in the fraction of the clip he was shown. Whilst you are entitled to a view if we must be armchair experts can we back it up with something more tangible.

[Owdlad]

The pilot looks nervous............flying in front of paying spectators effects your mindset and it can effect your performance for good or bad.

Reason for the crash........ loose spark plug causing the engine to die.

I'm sorry but that's pilot error due to lack of effective maintenance. Flying a 60+% scale monster with a 400cc motor up front in front of 1000s of spectators all reliant on a radio signal is a recipe for disaster and proper safety measures should be in place

Before every flight a thorough pre-flight maintenance check should be carried out.....every last nut & bolt should be checked over including the engine. Spark plugs don't suddenly become loose.

I will stand by what I say......pilot error... let's hope that people learn lessons from his miss fortune.

I hope the LMA are conducting an accident investigation to prevent such occurrence from happening again and don't brush this crash under the carpet which I suspect will happen.

[extra slim]

Feel for the fella, dead stick down wind in that awkward spot, he looked like he thought about a turn into wind, opted for nose down to get some air speed and nearly pulled it off, wing dropped about 5ft...just unlucky..yards and yards away from spectators...yes I'm all for maintenance/checks etc.. But I think you are being a bit harsh with this one..BTW..I'm not into or impressed by the big is better crew, I prefer a nice mid sized model flown brilliantly, like back in the day, so I'm not wide eyed follower of the modern trend...just in this instance ...stuff happens..