How I crashed and completely destroyed my new RC Plane

I crashed and completely destroyed my newly built Balsa USA Smoothie RC plane. It was completely my fault, pilot error. I inadvertently applied excessive flap deployment during full throttle as I was climbing away from a "touch and go" maneuver which resulted in high drag and loss of lift and a tip stall. The plane's right wing dropped and the plane essentially cartwheeled into the ground. This was a complete let down after I spent a lot of time building and sharing the build of the kit on my channel. I will pick up the pieces and keep moving and start a new rc plane build project in the near future.
I have been building, flying, crashing, modifying, and repairing radio control planes (RC Planes) for many years and enjoy sharing what I do with the radio control plane community, so I started RC Plane Tech channel for fun. I am not an expert, there are many different techniques to building radio control planes. A good way to learn about flying and building rc planes is to see what others are doing, that's what I do and that's why I like to share what I do. Thanks for watching my channel. Have fun!

[@phillipiacobacci1369]

Build them, crash them, re-build them. Rest in pieces. Anyone who says they have not crashed, well, they have never flown in my humble opinion. I enjoy watching your videos and keep them coming my friend.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks I appreciate it. I like the “rest in pieces “, lol

[@capnhardway]

It can be tough, it's part of the hobby however like everything else it's getting more expensive!! Sorry..😢

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks

[@robertcovell2787]

Don't feel too bad buddy. I've been flying and building for 55 years and I spent 4 months building a new Waco YMF3 last winter. She was beautiful with a big Thunder Tiger .91 four stroke up front. Maiden flight was absolutely perfect! And I started liking the plane so much that I took it out (along with something else) every time I went flying. So I was flying late in the afternoon under a very heavy, grey overcast. The Waco was painted deep burgundy with cream trim and I had no business flying such a dark plane on such a dark day. My 76 year old eyes lost it and she's a bag of sticks.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Man sorry to hear that. Sounded like a nice plane you built. Its always harder when we make that one decision that when looked back on we regret. But it happens. Thanks again.

[@robertcovell2787]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech Yup, move on. Next EAA Bipe

[@duncanm8978]

Thank you for the full smoothie series from conception, elation and sometimes upset, that’s the hobby as I have discovered but it’s a continual learning experience even for experienced fliers like yourself, but for me as a newbie your videos are so important. I would not of taken on a restoration of an old donated aircraft without your videos which gave me the info and confidence to get it done, today it’s flying looks great purely because of your detail and persistence provided so thank you, build another airframe and get it in the air again. Thank you again from the UK.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback and sharing what you have been doing. I really appreciate it!

[@Watchdog_McCoy_5.7x28]

My uncle got a kit plane like this one year as a Christmas present. He spent hours upon hours in the basement building it, painting it, etc, and once completed he refused to fly it because he was scared of crashing it. He would take the wings off and drive it around the yard and watch the dogs chase it around and bark at it. He sold it a few years later. He had never flown an RC plane so I'm really not sure why it was considered as a Christmas gift.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thats a really funny story! Well maybe he should have gotten an rc car. It is very scary to maiden a kit build. I don’t blame him.

[@tonysmith7564]

James I just wanted to send you a big thankyou for your series on this build. It very rare on you tube that there is a series that covers everything from selection of the model through the full build to the maiden flight. Ok it didn't end well, but for me this underlined the full flavour of the series in that you never attempted to hide anything, it was definitely a 'warts and all' series. Any one who has attempted this hobby will tell you that we all crash. But the crash should not deter us from the legacy that you have left on You Tube. I will continue to be one of your subscribers thanks again.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks Tony! I appreciate it. We all accept that as sure we fly we will crash at some point, hopefully less on the crash part. Thanks again.

[@jdnpe]

HI, sorry for your plane. Here goes my advice: put the receiver in a cheap plane, normally I put in a glider and test it, if you get a good range and it does not act weird, you should be good to go. As for the servos, check them, you can take them apart and check the gears, if everything looks ok, put them in a cheap project and test them, you may also mark them and use them as throttle servos, so if they die while you're flying, you still have the chance to land the plane (yes, you might need to run out of fuel first). I have always done this and never had any issues, I have been into R/C planes for 29 years now. I hope I was able to help.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, those are good tips. I don’t want to throw out good equipment.

[@jdnpe]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech You're very welcome. Nice channel too. Keep up the good work.

[@barthutchison4207]

Nice Revolver in the background. I crashed mine 2 months ago, due to pilot error, after 5 years of service

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ug, sorry to hear that. That was a nice run at 5 years.

[@ericchild8845]

Your efforts have been greatly appreciated by myself and many other I am certain. You have inspired my next build while is going to be the Smoothie 40 from Balsausa and in spite of the total gut punch I felt when I saw your short go up, I am still going ahead with the project. Am just finishing a restoration of a Great Planes Super Sportster of mid to lat 90’s vintage that was destined for the dumpster. Several hundred (that is what I tell my wife) dollars and four months later I am finally getting the plane re-covered and can see light at the end of the tunnel. Hoping it isn’t a train… thanks for sharing your loss with us. I know it sucks, as I am sure many of the RC pilots reading and watching your channel can appreciate, but it is part of the hobby/sport/fun. Pick your own adjective there. Cheers from Nor Cal - Eric

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks a lot for the nice comment, I appreciate it! And glad to hear when others are building as well as special projects such as your restoration. That’s really cool. And when it comes to crashing, thats a part of the process. Its like if you don’t want to get wet, don’t go swimming. It was a letdown for sure, but Im glad it was a dump pilot move and not a bad build! I think that would have been harder to take, at least I know it flew.

[@Vdubin64bug]

Nobody has mentioned rebuilding here in the comments.. I've put some planes back together, that should have been trashed.. I love to rebuild as well.. If you think that the wing is too far gone.. I'd almost bet that you can purchase a wing kit from Balsa USA... I'll tell you what.. That fuse could be made to look as good as new in less time than you'd imagine... Just a thought James.. I followed from the beginning on this one and I'd go round two with ya.. Just a recommendation.. I've always put my flaps on a three position switch.. I'm not a huge fan of the dial(s)... Thanks for sharing.. Your high desert neighbor...

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Hey there. You know, I assumed I would just chuck it. But I looked at it and it broke kinda clean, especially the fuselage. So I gutted it and boxed it up, maybe I will. I may just do what you suggest. I kept all of the wood that the parts came from so I could cut new pieces. So maybe someday Ill tackle it. Thanks again!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

And yes, no more dial on flaps without an end point, or just use a switch in future.

[@chrisr4274]

Oh man. Sorry for your loss. Part of the hobby I guess.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks. It certainly can be for most of us. Sometimes things happen out of your control, other times it’s pilot error, like this one.

[@davidking3918]

I know the feeling I stalled a 4 star 40 I tryed to land to slow went into a stall spin this is type of plane I flew for 8 years straight in the 90s I now fly a sig lt40 and I love it it's simple and it will get up and go when I get board with it I'm going to fly my 4 star 64 I am going to convert my 4 star 40 to a midstar.when we crash it's always a plane you spend year on I have better luck taking a month on one kit and it will last for many years I know I distroyed a top flight p47 800 dollars down the drain I learn my lesson after that thanks James you did best you could happy flying

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ya, maybe the ones with the big time and money invested make us more jittery on the sticks. The planes we don’t care as much last forever. But it’s always a bummer when it happens. Thanks

[@easystar123]

Thank you for sharing this video. You explained everything so well and it's always sad to see a plane go down hard but we always bounce back as every crash is a learning curve. I've had manys a crash over my 37 years flying and it always hurt, but I always learned to try and not make the same mistake twice. As a matter of interest, I'm still using Futaba radio since 1986 and I've never changed. Great video and I wish you many more great flights and happy landings.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks I appreciated it. Ya crashing is not fun, I just wish I had more time with the plane. And I wish I didn’t make such a stupid mistake. But as you say, we keep moving and try to learn. its all part of the hobby.

[@stevendegiorgio3143]

That's a REAL balsa plane,you can rebuild it piece by piece.We would call that rekiting.

[@miker7294]

We have all done this, it was such a beautiful plane but stuff happens. You’ll rebuild or replace.

[@billjones3071]

Sorry to see this, keep it simple when you fly especially a new plane you don’t need flaps on a smoothie

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ya, this plane would be fine without flaps. I wish now I didn’t add them!

[@WarbirdPiLOT]

Bummer, nice to see you take it as well as you do, beeing balsa it 7s possible to repair, just let it sit dor a while and you might be motivated ti fix it...

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, yes it’s boxed up and I may do that one day.

[@cobra72lcrc]

I have been using sliders on the side of the transmitter for flaps. I only buy transmitters with that feature now. I always set my planes with flaps so they use the same slider and I can move it without taking my thumb off the stick. They are all set up so moving up toward the top of the transmitter raises the flaps. I hope you are able to repair the plane without too much work!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Sliders, something to think about. Thanks

[@workonesabs]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech I have a T6J, but always used transmitters with a 3 postion switch or sliders where I can turn them off without needing to take hands off sticks, such as using the center knob. Also I don't use flaperons as they cause more problems, either don't use them or use normal flaps - even if i split the ailerons into flaps, as most aileron control is at the tips of the wings, anyway.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, I may repair it one day, but for now Ill set it aside. No more knob for me and more importantly always need to set an endpoint so I don’t over “throw”it again

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

I wish the T6J had a three way switch for additional settings, thats why I went with the knob. But to be safe Ill just use the switch and have one flap setting and also always set an endpoint so I don’t over control it by accident. Thanks for the suggestions I appreciate it.

[@mariospapa100]

May suggest something ? Put mix with flaps, elevetor down about 5-7% so the ballooning will be not so rapid, leaving you time to act in case of a fault action. Marios Papadopoulos Athens, Greece kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6rKhZWIpbVofM0

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks for the tip. That sounds useful. Im not sure my current radio will allow am additional mix, but Ill check. Thanks

[@mariospapa100]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech if it is at least 6 channel radio I think have this option even hidden

[@jasonstarnes3838]

Kits always hurt more. And 90% of mine are kit built

[@jordancoleman2402]

I'm waiting for the NTSB report to come out on this one before I talk $hit in the comments.

[@stevebarr9604]

Yeah I used to use the knob for flaps too but now I always use a 3 position switch! Sorry that happened but I woul!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Im going to not use the knob anymore. Its more cumbersome. Switching to switching…

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

And thanks

[@bigadd43]

Retire most of the gear keep servos tank if no leaks get rid of your RX or keep it as a test rx clean the engine and spinner is should be still good

[@tomflynn7373]

James, I can tell from your voice that it happened so quick. I have a private pilots license and for me it is much easier to fly a real plane than an RC plane. With RC planes it seems that what you want to do and what your fingers and or thumbs actually do don’t always seem to agree. It looks like a lot of the electronics are salvageable, I would not discount using the receiver again if it works. I usually can reuse the motor, receiver, ESC, landing gear and some servos, I usually lose at least one servo in a crash. I know this plane had significant sentimental value but get out there and fly one of your ARF’s, you will soon be thinking about what you can use the electronics and motor in next. Maybe an ARF this time! I just got a Phoenix Sonic Mk2 Low-Wing .25-.32 GP EP ARF 52.7 from Tower Hobbies to replace the e Flite Leader 480 that I crashed. It was the only balsa sport aerobatic plane I could find in stock that I could use the Leader’s electronics in that was in stock and it was only about $90 with my Tower discount. Not as pretty is the Smoothie but I think it would be a good plane to use your Smoothie motor and other parts and a quick and inexpensive build. Tom

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks Tom for the tips and suggestions. I think I can use most of the electronics as you suggest. I appreciate it. Just don’t fly your real plane like i fly my rc planes! And, yes, gonna dust off one of my ARFs and do some flying.

[@A.M.-RC]

Always sorry to see a plane crashed, but we learn from our mistakes. Hope you can rebuild it, it looked great!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@stevearmett1565]

Nothing worse than crashing your pride and joy but it's part of flying what goes up must come down we hope it's in one piece but sometimes it's in several sadly. Onto the next engine looks good at least 👍

[@lamarw7757]

"what goes up must come down" Elon Musk put a Tesla Roadster in orbit around the sun early 2018. It went up, but it won't be coming down. We need to revise that old saying.

[@BillKisel]

I feel for you. crashing a model, especially one that you've built, sure hurts. However, I've had two planes fly away on me - my fault - and find that it hurts me a lot more than when I crash.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@feathersofflame]

Amen, I have lost 2 birds now and I'd rather crash and recover the parts than watch one go off and lose sight of it....

[@RubyS.1]

I just built my third kit and crashed the first one i built day after you posted the short. Mine is just a little wing/plank you would have finished in half a day but i had alot of time in building and covering,. I'll tell you what the price of kits being near the same cost as an ARF plus all the time it takes I spent couple days considering starting my third plane. Theres just something cool about taking a box of wood and a big hard to read plan and making it fly plus I get to make sure theres actually glue in the joints.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Wow, sorry to hear you crashed your plane. Its never fun no matter what, but especially if you built it. I’m always happy hear it when others are actually building, so great, keep it up! You learn more about the plane and how it works and you are right, building assures that its done correctly, never know exactly what you are getting with an ARF. Good luck with your next build!

[@theeastman9136]

Thanks for the warning man. 🙏🏼

[@carlwill5009]

Sorry to hear about your crush with my experience if you do rebuild this. Try to fly without using flaps. Don't set it up without it. You will notice the difference because that plan can slow down pretty Good If you do, decide to rebuild thishow us how you did it. That will help people how to rebuild their plans when they crash. Nice vidyou be fine

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, I appreciate it. If I do rebuild, I will certainly do a few vids.

[@gogg62025]

Sorry to hear about the crash. If it's any consolation, I built my Smoothie last fall. I watched your videos and put some of your tips to good use. It's a great flying plane. So all your work building and posting didn't entirely go to waste. It helped me and will surely help others. Thank you.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thats cool. Im glad some of my content was helpful. It was a great flyer, glad you were successful with the build and flying! Thanks

[@grantfoster9099]

i crashed my T 28 couple weeks ago repaired her n shes back up n flying sorry to hear about your new plane working with wood is on a whole another level

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Sorry to hear you crashed your plane, but great that you fixed it an are up and running again. Crashes are part of the hobby that we have to accept. They are hard to take, even more when you built it from a kit. Thanks for sharing your experience. This is a great hobby!

[@corycanfield545]

It happens an I just wanna say I really enjoyed the build series you did with this plan it gave me the bug to start a build thanks from Oklahoma

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Great! Thanks I appreciate it!

[@earlforthun3838]

Futaba has a great service dept. send the RX to be checked they will let you know if it's a loss or can be repaired or if there is a problem or not.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

I didn’t know that. Thanks!

[@workonesabs]

That poor engine, smashed into the ground twice. any damage to the engine?

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Remarkably no. The engine has survived two crashes as you said and its good. The first crash I did have to replace the carb because the needle valve tore off. I have not tried to run it since the second crash, I guess I should. It appears fine, but maybe not. As I mentioned in video it hit in a soft area and the left wing tip hit first and the fuselage dislodged while breaking in half at the wing mount.. so all in all I don’t think the engine took the brunt of the crash.

[@goodboyringo9716]

That was a cool looking plane and was fast . I'd have to build another .

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, ya some day maybe, I think with a little work its actually possible to rebuild this. I have the plans to help with parts. Maybe a side project.

[@BayonasRCWorld]

😢😢😢awe man buddy so sorry to see such nice work go in.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks. It was a bummer. But moving on.

[@8kigana]

oh man, plane crashes are disheartening, I have been through them and the walk of shame is tough (going and coming). Good thing the motor and key components are good. I would get another radio that has 3 position switches and voice prompts so that you know what's on and off, they are much cheaper, radiomaster tx16s have all those and great videos of those and the receivers are dirt cheap but excellent reception. Great videos, you are helpful with nitro plane info ! Thanks!!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks I appreciate the compliment and suggestions.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

We all crash, eventually!

[@CarlosChavez-gs1ld]

We can all relate to this video! Thanks for the honest sharing here, I think it will help at least a handful of others in one way or the other.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks! And I appreciate your earlier comment regarding the power, I responded to that as well. Thank you.

[@MasboyRC]

Never give up

[@98-24]

I would change the receiver, I crashed my Carbon Cub and I fix it and the next flight it just dropped out of the sky, I. Found that the receiver worked intermittently.

[@imbatman66]

A good long Saturday on the repair bench and you can have it back in the air 😊

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, maybe a few long Saturdays, lol

[@benhynum9879]

On to the next one!

[@MrFlyonenow]

Sorry to hear of this. I enjoyed your build series on it. You should come out to Whittier Narrows this Saturday for our annual Classic Pattern/ Vintage RC Society Get Together #13 I'll be flying a Red/Yellow Dirty Birdy. Paul

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Hi, I think the Smoothie is considered a vintage kit, too bad I don’t have it anymore… Ill see how it goes this weekend maybe I can make it out there. I didn’t know the event was going on. Thanks for letting me know.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

I checked, and the paperwork that came with the Smoothie kit included a brochure for Vintage RC Society and noted that it was a Kit recognized by the Society. I was thinking about joining a while back.

[@MrFlyonenow]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech yes, the smoothie is on the approved list. Hope you can make it out.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

I just got back from a road trip, I hope it went well today for you. Vintage kits are really cool. Thanks for letting me know about the event.

[@Charleston_SC]

Disorientation is a model plane killer. Beautiful plane. Sorry

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, and yes for sure. It has happened to me more than once!

[@Charleston_SC]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech .... The frequency of disorientation diminishes but I do not think it ever completely goes away

[@mconfluence]

Sorry to see that you crashed your plane.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, yes a real bummer. Lesson learned.

[@highdesertmisfitsrcclub2846]

ouch...

[@jasonstarnes3838]

Ive been building and flying rc and building kits for 30 years. Still happens to the best of us.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

😢😢...Well, don't feel too bad, sir...I got a buddy that crashes a plane ev'ry 3-6 months...What's terrible...???... He thinks its the funniest thang... Just got thru crashing a Giant-scale Great Planes Super Sportster ARF a few weeks ago...I sold it to him 'New in the box"...I got 6 Hinge points left from his "destruction"... He didnt check his RCVR battery levels... His did the same " maneuver " yours just did....Pilot error... Me...Crashing a plane ...It takes summin' outta me...I ain't rich, and alota time and efforts went into building it...Seeing it in non-rebuildable pieces....😢😢😢😢...I need Counseling afterwards...

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ya, its part of the hobby. I certainly don’t like it, especially if its my fault. And ya, these things take time and money, two thing we all don’t have a lot of. Some people like to fly hard and don’t mind a crash. I have two ARFs and two that I built, that I rotate flying. And I have had them for several years now. So happy to say, im not going through planes. Thanks for the comment.

[@superdon1chw]

I have mine set up with spoilerons and flaperons I will have to try full power I never had anything like that ever happen

[@EJ-74]

Very nice build, really hate to see it smashed up, I'm sure you will have it flying again in no time hehe!!!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@BDaddyMofo]

Never good when that happens but it can happen. Really sucks it happened to this plane, it was a great build. RIP little Smoothie :(

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks

[@mlgluv2playtv]

Thanks for sharing your experience we all learn from video's like yours , time to dust that other plane off the shelf.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@argus9609]

Sounds like the plane did a snap roll. It's cool when you do it on purpose, not so much accidentally close to the ground. I'm in the process of repairing a plane I crashed last week after the elevator linkage came loose and ended up in a screaming climb. Now that was one nerve wracking flight. It actually was a relief when it finally impacted the ground being that was a 1/2A pylon racer with no throttle running an old Cox Tee Dee .09.

[@gecrashed6565]

That‘s a shame! 😕 Are you gonna fix it?

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks. Maybe some day. I have it all in a box. It’s fixable, but I need to work on something different for a while.

[@dannynewman4077]

Hello. Sorry about your Smoothie. I have a new Smoothie kit from Balsa USA I would sell if you are interested. Got it last year and I have not started building yet.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Hi, thanks but Im planning on moving on to something different now. Put it on ebay, Im sure you can sell it fast.

[@dannynewman4077]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech I'll go ahead and build it this winter. Not much flying action in my area, just two small clubs, losing members.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thats too bad about your local clubs, hopefully things will turn around.

[@lleston8927]

For the receiver, check it under a magnifying glass and see if there aren’t lose solder joints. After that, do a range check.

[@stevendegiorgio3143]

I also avoid unessary complicated control setups.I have flown for over 40 years without flaps,flaporons or airbrakes.I believe in keeping it as simple as it could be,that way there's less stuff to manage while in-flight.Just develop the skills to landing a plane without flaps.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

I think that’s great advice. In general I try to keep things on the simple side with my setups. Probably could have skipped the flaps.

[@jasonstarnes3838]

They are planes and they all have an expiration date

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thats a good way to put it. Mine had a short one😂

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Jerky camera....I'm out.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ya, its not the best to try to vid with a head mounting, sometimes it’s better than others. I have to work on the method. Thanks