When the unexpected happened...

[Steve Helmick]

Had an oddity happen last Sunday, first round of Advanced at the Western Canada Stunt Champs. Got to the H8, and the engine sputtered a bit during the first 8, and quit cold, just about the bottom of the 2nd outside. The setting was just fine...not rich or lean...just right, as usual.

It continued around to the tangent point, but I could see that was going to end badly, and cranked on full up. It did 3/4 of an inside, cleared the ground (barely) and landed. The fuel tank was about 1/3 full...it's a clunk, on a provile (sic). Ok, it was about 2/3 empty, Schultz.

So, I went and judged a round of Expert, and decided that I really needed to "do something" to make sure the sucker didn't flame out on me again. But what to do? I checked the glowplug, and it seemed to glow ok, but replaced it with a new one of the same type, Thunderbolt R/C Long. Even threw the old one out. Pulled the fuel hose/filter, and blasted the filter out both directions, tho it seemed to be clear. I then filled the tank, hooked the plane onto my Tom Morris stooge, fired it up and let it run the tank out. Various folks walked by and inspected it, as it ran, while I sat in the shade, over under the trees. Seemed to run just fine. I got my second flight in ok, and ended up 2nd, against a talented new flier, Dave McCheyne. Ok, but my first flight was much better, as far as it got...dang!  

It was very odd to have a flameout like this. It's never happened before, in about 3 years of flying the same plane and setup. It's rather bugging me that I don't really know the exact cause. I did look down the venturi, checking for honey bees...   Steve

[wwwarbird]

 What engine, tank, muffler combo? How old is the plug?

[Steve Helmick]

I think it swallered a bug, or maybe it was because I didn't forward an email that said I have bad luck if'n I didn't. 

Geez, you ask all these technical questions! It's a Magnum XLS .36, with a stock OS .46LA muffler, .272" venturi, no air filter, Powermaster 10-22 GMA, 4 oz Hayes clunk tank on muffler pressure, T-bolt R/C long, and TT 11 x 4.5 prop...as it has been for a couple of years. The glowplug's date of install would be hard to pin down. Definitely this century, probably this decade, maybe this year! It was a pretty hot day, but not as hot as last year. I really don't expect it to happen again anytime soon!  Steve 

[wwwarbird]

 If it does, first thing I'd do is stick a new plug in it.

[Garf]

I have had a couple of engines develop a problem of quitting cold, like someone threw a switch. After a while, I traced it to too much oil in the fuel.

[Joe Yau]

Had an oddity happen last Sunday, first round of Advanced at the Western Canada Stunt Champs. Got to the H8, and the engine sputtered a bit during the first 8, and quit cold, just about the bottom of the 2nd outside. The setting was just fine...not rich or lean...just right, as usual.

It continued around to the tangent point, but I could see that was going to end badly, and cranked on full up. It did 3/4 of an inside, cleared the ground (barely) and landed. The fuel tank was about 1/3 full...it's a clunk, on a provile (sic). Ok, it was about 2/3 empty, Schultz.

So, I went and judged a round of Expert, and decided that I really needed to "do something" to make sure the sucker didn't flame out on me again. But what to do? I checked the glowplug, and it seemed to glow ok, but replaced it with a new one of the same type, Thunderbolt R/C Long. Even threw the old one out. Pulled the fuel hose/filter, and blasted the filter out both directions, tho it seemed to be clear. I then filled the tank, hooked the plane onto my Tom Morris stooge, fired it up and let it run the tank out. Various folks walked by and inspected it, as it ran, while I sat in the shade, over under the trees. Seemed to run just fine. I got my second flight in ok, and ended up 2nd, against a talented new flier, Dave McShane. Ok, but my first flight was much better, as far as it got...dang! 

It was very odd to have a flameout like this. It's never happened before, in about 3 years of flying the same plane and setup. It's rather bugging me that I don't really know the exact cause. I did look down the venturi, checking for honey bees...  Steve

Steve,
 
Well, at least you got one good flight in on Sunday.  I didn't even get to finish flying 3 of my official flights..  resulted no points for 2-3 maneuvers really kills the scores.  as it ran out of fuel not twice, but 3 times!! . and almost lost a plane when it quit right at the entry of the OH-8 (direct overhead) was not nice.    Both of the planes are new, (profile .46LA Pathfinder & Saito .56/ Score) and they were suppose to get the run dialed in and timed on Friday,  but it was just way too windy as you know.  so I just got the run down late Friday evening, but didn't get the flight timed unfortunately..   and of course those extra laps that I don't normally do didn't help either.  I should of just took a chance on over runs. 

[john e. holliday]

Isn't that part of Murphy's law?  That when you put in the best flight of the season and something happens, like what happened to you.  Or you blow a maneuver, plug go over the hill and/or you get a 25 minute flight on 4 1/4 ounces of fuel.  I would blame the plug as you stated that it was changed.  I haven't figured out yet why they can't run for several years on the same plug. At least you got a flight in.

[GGeezer]

Steve,
Are you not a believer in "Model Airplane Voo Doo"?
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the final round (trophy round) of the Thompson Race mass launch at the Flying Aces Free Flight Nationals at Geneseo N.Y. The biggest threat in the round was winding his rubber motor next to me when I gave it the "Evil Eye" and......... BAM...... it broke, forcing him out of the competition and allowing me to win!
In a weird coincidence, this exact same thing happened at a contest last year and to the same competitor!
I am now a firm believer .

The main suspect in your case would then be the guy who eventually won the event you were flying in.
Rumor has it that if you cover your plane with aluminum foil, this might make it more stealthy and able to avoid this nefarious interference.

Orv.

[Steve Helmick]

Just got to an email from Keith Varley, correcting the spelling of our intrepid winner, Dave McCheyne...

Keith also mentioned that when glowplugs get old, they'll tend to do that, showing signs of too much oil. Fair enough. I guess I got my $5 worth from that one. Coulda been at a better time, tho... Steve