My first major accident!

[kamarul]

The day I dreaded finally happened 2 days ago!

There I was flying my final sortie of the day and as I was turning around to actually land, the canopy suddenly flew-off striking the rotor. There's a sudden lost of altitude then bang! the X6 hit a structure about 5m up collapsing the airframe then the X6 falls straight down hitting the hard concrete!

In front of a large crowd of fee paying customer no less, who just signed up for a weekly coverage for the next 30 weeks. What an embarrassing situation to be in!

Physically, the damage to the X6 wasn't that serious though - but serious enough for me to have to pack the whole thing and ship it back to Draganfly. Damage to my pride and confidence? pretty bad!

Anyway, 2 things I wanna share here :

1) Be very very careful with the canopy. I secure them tight every time pre-flight, but still it has fallen off on me 3 times already. The first 2 without any incident but as you can see, the third time wasnt so lucky!

2) Im very pleased and impressed with Cory Baker over at Draganfly Innovations. Very quick response and professional in approach! Looks like things have changed a lot at Draganfly and I suppose it can only get better! Kudos to them. Hope they can have my X6 back to me soonest.

[Rod Dent]

Kamarul:

Exact same thing happened to me.
Canopy flew off....hit one of the rotors, slowing it enought for the X-6 to flip to one side, then dropped like a rock from about 50 ft up. Fortunatly it dropped onto hard grass...in front of a croud. Broke enough things to require a send back.....

As you said....Cory was the greatest at getting it back in the air for me...with an improved latch.....

BUT....

I still use one of my daughters black elastic hair bands to wrap around the canopy on every flight.....just for redundance.

[pulsey]

That's bad. Think I'll look into securing it as well haven't done so far, even though it seems flimsy.


Who's going to pay - you or DF?

Out of interest, what was the 30 week job?
Need me to come out and cover for you? Rates negotiable ;D

[sRagnar]

that is why I have never flown with it on. it looks bad with it off but makes getting to the batteries easier and I was always afraid of that thing.
It is now in canada for an upgrade of the flight frame and I hope that it will come back better than it left. if not then I just keep flying it with it of. Like Rod said it is amazing that the 20K helicopter can be taken down by a 50cent plastic screw and so much for it being able to fly on 5 rotors

[kamarul]

Rod : Hmm i guess i wasnt alone then. Cory mentioned of a new latching system that can prevent this. What they should do, is do a Toyota! ;D

Pulsey : Its covered under warranty. Even the courier charges is paid for by draganfly inc. Good of them. No questions asked. But still I'll be out of my X6 for 2-3 weeks. Ill just have to use my mast system while its undergoing repairs.

You wanna come over? Come over here to sunny beautiful Malaysia! Great food, plenty of sun not to mention the girls! haha.

The job is a once every week coverage of a construction progress. I think I'll be out of the X6 maybe for only 3 weeks tops. I think I can manage that.

But still, invitation is open to you and anyone to come over to Malaysia. I can provide free accommodation in the city and perhaps several rounds of drinks as well!

sRagnar : Are you sure its safe to do so? Im worried to do that as it'll provide some protection to the ceramic gps antenna...

[Rod Dent]

Kamarul:

Me and my wingman....the Sig....are on our way to help you out.
Sound like our kind of gig.....eh Siggy!

[robc450]

My X6 had to go back to DF for some TLC (tender loving care) after suffering a "mishap". The "mishap" was caused by someone else with an r/c plane flying into it. I wonder if anyone makes tiny air-air missiles??

During the repairs the DF folks installed the new latching system for the top.
Much better, reminds me of a car hood (bonnet) latch.

hhmmm... hood / bonnet.. English & English, does that mean I'm bilingual??

[kamarul]

Got my X6 back a couple of days ago! yehaaa!

Kudos to DF. It came back lookin brand new! With the new latch, 4 new motors, new transmitters that can now beam back images from as far away as Im willing to fly AND most importantly it flies like its on rail!

Excellent work DF!