R/C aircraft Safety-Helicopter Preflight

Please visit our other posts on Helicopter safety for additional information

Helicopter Preflight

Daily Check-Preflight

• Check all ball links for slop and change as necessary.

• Check that all rotor blades are in good condition with no damage other than minor tip scuffs.

• Check the blades and flybar visually to make sure that they are aligned properly and that they’re on securely. Move them a little to make sure the dampers are not broken or worn out.

• Check for loose or missing nuts and bolts. Vibration is the enemy of the aviator!

• Check that there is no backlash in the drive system apart from gear backlash which should not be excessive.
• Check that every thing’s working properly and moving as it should. Check the throw direction for all pushrods and servos and make sure the swashplate is moving as it should. It’s very easy forget to change a radio setting back to normal when bench testing.

• Check that all servos are secure and free from oil.
• Check the wiring for damage and ensure that there are no breaks or cuts and that the servo plugs are securely plugged into the receiver. If you have any servo wire extensions, make sure the connections are solid.
• Check that all parts (gyro, batteries, fuel tank, ESC, BEC, governor etc.) are mounted securely.
• Check the clutch, bell and liner for normal operation.
• Check the fuel system (if applicable). Make sure fuel lines are secure and free of cracks or damage. Check the fuel tank for any signs of sediment, damage, or dislodged clunk.
• Check that the receiver aerial is secure and in good condition with no chafing or damage.

• Check radio / functions.If it’s your first flight of the day do a range check and make sure there’s no interference nearby and that the throttle / throttle hold functions are working properly. It would also be a good idea to quickly check your trims to be sure you haven’t bumped one out of position.
• Check your batteries. Make sure your batteries are all fully charged and secured properly. If possible, test them with a volt meter under load. Also visually inspect them for damage
• Check your tail belt tension (if applicable). A loose belt can cause slippage and loss of tail control. A belt that’s too tight will put unnecessary wear on your motor and other tail drive system parts potentially causing a problem. Squeeze it with your fingers to ensure it’s tight enough, but not too tight.

Checks before each flight:

• If a helicopter suffers damage or a heavy landing re-check all of the above.

• Check all controls before starting especially for binding or slowing of servos.

• Re-check controls at a high rotor rpm just before lift-off.

• Check for vibration and eliminate before flying.

• Check main rotor blades for true tracking in hovering flight.

• Check that the receiver aerial cannot become entangled with any moving or rotating parts.

• Double check that all switches on the transmitter are in their correct positions before EVERY flight.

Be S.M.A.R.T. with your transmitter:

S…switch on
M…meter in the green
A…aerial secure and extended
R…rate switches all in correct positions
T…trims all in correct positions