Author Topic: Flyng Dragon PCP Air Tube Failure (Read 144909 times))

PakProtector · « **on:** August 22, 2015, 08:06:07 PM »

I got to see my first main air tube failure today. The rifle was charged to 1k5 psi. Upon loading it into the truck for its return home it blew up. Air tube is MIA. I hope my neighbor does not find it with his 96" mop mower. Mostly because I want to take a picture of it. Nobody was hurt, entirely due to luck IMO.

This was a near-new example, and was un-modified. I believe our resident expert( well, one of the top 2 or 3) Bob Sterne raised some questions about their construction topology and warned against high pressure operation.
cheers,
Douglas

Tonycalves · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2015, 08:09:18 PM »

Glad to hear there was no injuries. That had the potential to be catastrophic.

madmullet · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2015, 08:27:45 PM »

Scary stuff!!! good to see no one was harmed. I really hope you can find the tube it needs to go back to FD to find out if it was a bad tube or a flaw in all of the tubes. Its a popular low budget gun that many have. Differently shows that all manufactures need to incorporate a burst disk in to our rifles like on a scuba valve. Was the sun beating down on the rifle when it happened?

PakProtector · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2015, 08:52:42 PM »

Quote from: madmullet on August 22, 2015, 08:27:45 PM

Scary stuff!!! good to see no one was harmed. I really hope you can find the tube it needs to go back to FD to find out if it was a bad tube or a flaw in all of the tubes. Its a popular low budget gun that many have. Differently shows that all manufactures need to incorporate a burst disk in to our rifles like on a scuba valve. Was the sun beating down on the rifle when it happened?

The rifle was not left in the sun. It was charged, and then put back in its case. It blew up whilst being moved around in the truck. As you said, very scary...just a matter of luck as to where it was pointed when it let go.
cheers,
Douglas

and yes, I want very much to find it. A thorough search was conducted up to the edge of the woods/brush line and it has not turned up yet.
cheers,
Douglas

vigilandy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2015, 09:24:46 PM »

Any idea as to where the failure point was? Was the threads on the receiver end? Or did it burst? How about a picture of the rest of the rifle? I'm very interested as I have a couple of these.

oldpro · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2015, 09:42:10 PM »

I would really like to state my opinion here and I know I will get bashed and will probably loose some business over it but Im ok with that. There are Many cheap china replica knock offs and cheaply made originals to boot that I wouldnt use as door stops let alone fill with high pressure air!!! I know people like a good deal but Im telling you your life is worth more than a $200 pcp. And one last thing and this is the most important part of my rant , If you live in this country why not support it instead of sending your money over seas and if you do please buy from companys that have been around awhile and support us airgunners. I have worked on a few of the better chinese guns for customers but no more..Im so glad Douglas your ok that certainly could have turned out much much differently(scary).

rsterne · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2015, 09:47:06 PM »

I would love to see a pic of the rest of the rifle.... In a complete lack of knowledge or evidence, I would bet that it failed where the tube is threaded where it screws into the receiver....

Bob

oldpro · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2015, 09:51:42 PM »

Douglas post a pic of the remains or shoot me a pic from your phone ill post it. Bob I also believe thats where it let go. I bet that air tube is 200 yards from your truck at least.

Bill G · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2015, 10:08:40 PM »

Douglas, MAN you are a very lucky unlucky person. luckily you were not hurt and I'm so glad to here that. Unlucky because you just lost a air rifle. Just glad all is well with you.

We do indeed need to see the remains and hopefully the tube can be recovered.

Bob Well.....some times the sky does fall after all I suppose. Ever been caught in a hailstorm in Kansas.

Bill

NHGuide · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2015, 10:31:42 PM »

REALLY GLAD no one was injured!
There are too many unknowns here, so any speculation would be nearly irrelevant...BUT Bob is quite likely correct regarding the failure point. WHY is the question (was there ANY mishandling--however slight-- or some other information we might use?). As a Fusion-to-HPA owner I am very interested in this incident.
I will wait in the wings and listen eagerly for any information !

PBguns · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2015, 10:35:47 PM »

Scary stuff. Glad no one got hurt! Scary just reading about it.
I bulked my fusion, but only will fill with co2.

Tommy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2015, 10:38:27 PM »

I also own a FDPCP I dont like to see a panic until we get the facts. Other airguns have failed and to me it seems it may be an isolated event. I am certainly glad no one was hurt. Mike has sold alot of these guns and I would hate to see his reputation belittled before the facts have come in. I think we need to hear from Mike before we pass judgement
Tom

Jeff AKA Privateer · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2015, 10:41:38 PM »

Very well stated Tommy.

rsterne · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:12:00 PM »

At this point, it is much more important to assess HOW the part failed, and WHY it failed.... If the pressure was 1500 psi, that is well within what CO2 can develop on a hot day (it is 1900 psi at 120*F if the tube is properly filled by weight).... I would not have expected a failure at 1500 psi on a stock XS-60c, as they SHOULD be engineered to be safe at that pressure.... Mike assured us that his PCP version was checked by engineers, so I am sure he will want to get to the bottom of it....

Douglas, I'm really glad you weren't hurt....

Bob

Kailua · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:21:38 PM »

Not the first tube to fail. The other IIRC was the wall of the cylinder was thin and failed. If it was a poor manufactured tube I would think they all should be recalled. I would think at 1500 psi the threads would not be a factor. But if so then even on CO2 there should be a concern on storing it like in a trunk on a hot day. JMO

Sorry Mr. Sterne got in late but posted anyways.

Rattus58 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:26:20 PM »

Quote from: Tommy on August 22, 2015, 10:38:27 PM

I also own a FDPCP I dont like to see a panic until we get the facts. Other airguns have failed and to me it seems it may be an isolated event. I am certainly glad no one was hurt. Mike has sold alot of these guns and I would hate to see his reputation belittled before the facts have come in. I think we need to hear from Mike before we pass judgement
Tom

I've got two of these gun myself, so I've a vested interest in this as does anyone who owns one. I also used to be a White Muzzleloader Dealer and had an opportunity to know a gentleman who had one of our rifles fail catastrophically and on top of that, had a myriad of problems on the warranty replacement... sights broken off in shipping, and a few other snoballed errors on top of that. Then Savage had one of their gun REALLY LET GO.... There is a reason that things fail... I'm hoping this becomes clear in time.

Aloha...

rsterne · « **Reply #16 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:34:32 PM »

I disagree, in a factory rifle designed for CO2, there should be NO concern about storing it at up to 120*F because that is the maximum temperature marked right on CO2 cartridges.... A company should design for a MSWP (maximum safe working pressure) of 1800 psi for CO2 and then allow a sufficient safety margin to allow a hydrotest to 5/3rds of that pressure, which is 3000 psi, exactly as it done for CO2 tanks, which are fitted with a 3K burst disc.... There is no way that any CO2 gun should fail before a 3K burst disc pops, IMO.... Is this practice followed universally?.... I would have to say no, because I know of one QB79 that failed at 2600 psi when the regulator bypassed and dumped the tank pressure into the tube.... The screws mounting the tank block sheared off, and in addition nearly ripped out of the tube as well, and the tank/regulator/tank block combination went spinning across the shop floor.... Now to be fair to Industry Brands (the QB manufacturer), the action was out of the stock at the time, so the extra two screws that mount the tank block to the stock were not in place, so maybe it would have survived 3000 psi, maybe not....

Bob

Kailua · « **Reply #17 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:37:45 PM »

If it was the threads may have to trash the four that I have bought. Three first gen and one second gen. One was modified with a Ninja reg and bottle. I hope Douglas can shed more light on the matter.

Tommy · « **Reply #18 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:43:06 PM »

I form one will not worry. My gun sits over nite with 1800psi I have checked the threads numerous times. I hope people dont start bashing Mike and his guns. He has helped me numerous times and from what I read I am not the only one. Strange that we have not seen pictures yet
Tom

Kailua · « **Reply #19 on:** August 22, 2015, 11:44:36 PM »

Got in late again on previous post.

So I am guessing it may be a defect on the aftermarket tube. And I should be safe running a 1100 psi regulator.