Top Flite TOPA0905 - Manual (Page 39)

Ground Check
If the engine is new, follow the engine
manufacturer’s instructions to break-in the
engine. After break-in, confirm that the engine idles
reliably, transitions smoothly and rapidly to full power
and maintains full power—indefinitely. After you run
the engine on the model, inspect the model closely
to make sure all screws remained tight, the hinges
are secure, the prop is secure and all pushrods and
connectors are secure.
Range Check
Ground check the operational range of your radio
before the first flight of the day. With the transmitter
antenna collapsed and the receiver and transmitter
on, you should be able to walk at least 100 feet away
from the model and still have control. Have an
assistant stand by your model and, while you work the
controls, tell you what the control surfaces are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at various
speeds with an assistant holding the model, using
hand signals to show you what is happening. If the
control surfaces do not respond correctly, do not fly!
Find and correct the problem first. Look for loose servo
connections or broken wires, corroded wires on old
servo connectors, poor solder joints in your battery
pack or a defective cell, or a damaged receiver crystal
from a previous crash.
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Keep all engine fuel in a safe place, away from high
heat, sparks or flames, as fuel is very flammable.
Do not smoke near the engine or fuel; and
remember that engine exhaust gives off a great
deal of deadly carbon monoxide. Therefore do not
run the engine in a closed room or garage.
• Get help from an experienced pilot when learning
to operate engines.
• Use safety glasses when starting or running engines.
• Do not run the engine in an area of loose gravel or
sand; the propeller may throw such material in
your face or eyes.
• Keep your face and body as well as all spectators
away from the plane of rotation of the propeller as
you start and run the engine.
• Keep these items away from the prop: loose
clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or
loose objects such as pencils or screwdrivers that
may fall out of shirt or jacket pockets into the prop.
• Use a “chicken stick” or electric starter to start the
engine. Do not use your fingers to flip the propeller.
Make certain the glow plug clip or connector is
secure so that it will not pop off or otherwise get
into the running propeller.
• Make all engine adjustments from behind the
rotating propeller.
• The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or right
after operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good
condition so fuel will not leak onto a hot engine,
causing a fire.
• To stop a glow engine, cut off the fuel supply by
closing off the fuel line or following the engine
manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not use
hands, fingers or any other body part to try to stop
the engine. Do not throw anything into the propeller
of a running engine.
AMA SAFETY CODE ( EXCERPTS )
Read and abide by the following excerpts from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the
complete Safety Code refer to Model Aviation
magazine, the AMA web site or the Code that came
with your AMA license.
General
1) I will not fly my model aircraft in sanctioned
events, air shows, or model flying demonstrations
until it has been proven to be airworthy by having
been previously, successfully flight tested.
2) I will not fly my model aircraft higher than
approximately 400 feet within 3 miles of an airport
without notifying the airport operator. I will give
right-of-way and avoid flying in the proximity of full-
scale aircraft. Where necessary, an observer shall
be utilized to supervise flying to avoid having
models fly in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
3) Where established, I will abide by the safety rules
for the flying site I use, and I will not willfully and
deliberately fly my models in a careless, reckless
and/or dangerous manner.
5) I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my
name and address or AMA number, on or in the
model. Note: This does not apply to models while
being flown indoors.
7) I will not operate models with pyrotechnics (any
device that explodes, burns, or propels a projectile
of any kind).
Radio Control
1) I will have completed a successful radio
equipment ground check before the first flight of a
new or repaired model.
Failure to follow these safety precautions may
result in severe injury to yourself and others.
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