Safety Comes First
"The incident occurred when a pushrod in the Helicopter's rotor head snapped while the model was in flight. The particular linkage which broke was the one that controlled forward motion (cyclic pitch? JDP) of the Helicopter. The pushrod broke while the pilot was hovering the Helicopter with it pointing directly towards him. He found he was unable to stop the machine's forward motion, and, because he lacked the time to get out of its way, he was struck in the head by the tail rotor. The model immediately crashed just a few feet away. Although the pilot required stitches to close the wound, the injury he sustained was relatively minor, and he was able to return to the field later that day to collect his equipment. I feel there are two lessons to be learned from this incident.
Safety Comes First
SAFETY LOGO: In the August 1987 issue of MA, I mentioned the reason for the disappearance of the safety logo from the head of this column and asked readers to submit suggestions for a new design. The response was good, but I haven't yet had a chance to visit AMA HQ to consult with the full-time magazine staff on which we should choose. So, for those who submitted designs for a new logo, I thank you and ask for your patience. Last month, a week of my time was consumed by an unscheduled business trip to San Francisco; I'm scheduled to take a week's vacation this month (August); and next month I'm scheduled to go to the Orient (Hong Kong, Beijing, and Bangkok) for a two-week business trip. Life is anything but dull!
Safety Comes First
ENGINES: Starting techniques. The injury associated with the sport of model airplanes which is most frequently reported is a laceration caused by contact with a rotating propeller. Judging by my mail, it seems that the most likely time that modelers will contact a turning prop is during the engine starting/tuning operation. If your model's engine is not equipped with a throttle (as is the case with most installations in Free Flight and Control Line models), you have no alternative but to flip the prop and expect the engine to scream at full bore the minute it fires. However, the greatest number of AMA members fly radio-controlled models, and most of the engines in these models are equipped with a throttle. So full-throttle starts can be-and in my opinion should be-avoided.
Safety Comes First
I'M RECOVERING from jet lag as I begin this month's Safety column. It is a result of a two-week visit to Hong Kong, Beijing, and Bangkok. A 12-hour time difference is about as much as you can get! This trip was business-related and, although I had no time to check out any hobby stores, during my stay in Hong Kong I visited a factory that produces RC cars but no model aircraft. I also had time for a brief walk on the Great Wall of China and visited Wat Phra Kaeo, the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It's no fun being back at work! Battery warning. This column has previously mentioned certain hazards that can result from a lack of knowledge of and/or respect for the batteries that we use in our hobby. A number of years ago I related an incident experienced by a fellow modeler who did extensive damage to his home when he inadvertently attempted to charge a Ni-Cd pack at a high rate and a fire resulted.
Safety Comes First
FATAL ATTRACTION. Back in the September 1980 issue if Model Aviation, this columnist mentioned an incident which occurred on the West Coast that involved a collision between an RC Sailplane and a hang glider. Fortunately, the hang glider pilot suffered no serious injuries. My comment on that incident was, "Simultaneous operation of RC Sailplanes and hang gliders from essentially the same site appears to be a hazardous pursuit." The editorial, "Switch On," in the October 1987 issue of the British model magazine Radio Control Models & Electronics (RCM&E,) recently came to my attention. It was devoted almost entirely to a discussion of another collision between a Slope Soarer and a hang glider, but in this case the hang glider pilot suffered fatal injuries.
