Lost Zephyr: timnilson needs your help!

[timnilson]

On Saturday, I was flying my Zephyr at New York's "Floyd Bennett Field" -- an old airbase surrounded by mostly forrest/swamp. I was about 350 meters out when my video went completely static from one moment to the next. I tried to climb, tried to engage RTH, nothing worked. I lost my Zephyr. This has been one of the worst experiences I've had in the past few years. I spent months assembling all the components and building the wing -- while doing it I wrote the Zephyr FPV build manual, which I know many of you have found helpful.

I have created the attached picture that shows where the wing must have gone down. The area is impossible to penetrate by foot. It's completely overgrown with trees, bushes, bamboo, high grass, swamp, etc. Impossible to do a foot search... I tried.

The wing has a phone number and reward written on it, but so far nobody called. That, to me, means that the wing is somewhere in the area that nobody is walking around in.

If you live around New York and feel like doing a little search and rescue FPV flying over the area in the picture, please let me know. If you find/recover my Zephyr, the reward will be $600 USD.

The attached picture shows where I was and also shows where the last GPS coordinates were that my GS received. When the video signal went out, I was headed towards the water away from my position. It's possible that the plane flew a little bit further, but most likely went down in close proximity to where the last GPS point was recorded.


Link to high res picture

Google Map:
http://goo.gl/maps/3RMM

Pictures of my Zeph:

[SENTRY]

If I was there you know I'd have a rig up doing a systematic search. Is Tushev in your area?? Octo (Tarro)??

[jimmaplesong]

Tim, I may be able to drive down on Saturday early. What's the range from your position to the water? Is it less than about 2km? (I'm at 5.8GHz, so I don't have too much confidence in my range.) If I can do a test flight here that covers about the same area, then we might have a good chance. I've got a spot for a downward-facing GoPro, and a video switch that lets me see through either cam in the downlink too, so my rig is just right for the purpose.

It will be about a 7 hour drive for me, so if anyone else is closer, go for it.

[Kevinv033]

Tim, wish I could head up to help you with your search...

[timnilson]

I just measured the distance between my position and the last known GPS point that the EzTracker shows on its display. When I lost video, I remember seeing a number in my OSD below 400 meters. However, when you measure the distance between the two points, that's about exactly double that distance: 800 meters. I do trust the GPS coordinates, but still strange that the OSD numer does not jive. I guess it's possible I don't remember the distance value properly, it's all a bit of a blur.

I think that my actual distance between myself and the plane was about 800 meters (not 350-400). The total distance from my position (where I was standing) to the water is 1,120 meters. From the last knows GPS point to the water is about 340 meters.

[jimmaplesong]

Thanks Tim, range is no issue then. I need to get some routine maintenance on my car lined up, and then Saturday is lookin' good on the calendar.

[timnilson]

Thanks Tim, range is no issue then. I need to get some routine maintenance on my car lined up, and then Saturday is lookin' good on the calendar.

OK Jim. That sounds great.

[brosius85]

damn tim thats unlucky. hope you get her back- cant imagine the stress.

[airbagit13]

Man what a downer, good luck finding it. Shes a big bird, I am sure Jim will be able to spot her from the air.

[M'ck'y]

food for thoughts.. have 2 sd cards, one in go pro while the other one being reviewed on a laptop or sdcard video player, something that provides video review on the biggest practical screen with no glare(in car or something). It might be more useful that you do a few laps come back and let someone else review the video as you go for another few laps in fpv. I would not worry about trying to see and identify the plane through goggles. I would instead fly accurately (speed/height/heading/waypoints) focussing on your determined effective search pattern with realistic figures of your own plane endurance and such. if you see it as u fly, of course, you've just scored 600 bux - petrol! good luck.