1. Introduction
This manual provides detailed instructions for the Eachine E186, a 1:27 scale replica of the Bell-206 helicopter. It features a highly realistic appearance, cool lighting effects, intelligent flight control, optical flow positioning, and altitude hold modules. Equipped with a dual brushless motor drive, it is suitable for beginners and can also serve as an excellent static display model.
Before operating, please read this user manual carefully. Incorrect operation may result in damage to the aircraft model. This is a complex hobby product that requires careful and sensible operation, as well as some basic mechanical skills. Failure to operate this product responsibly and in a safe manner may result in personal injury, damage to the product, or other property.
Disclaimer: For recreation use only. Illegal modification of drones/planes is prohibited. Please also pay attention to the relevant laws and regulations on the use of drones/planes in your country/area to ensure legal use.
2. Safety Precautions and Warnings
General Warnings
- Age Recommendation: Not suitable for children under 14 years old. This is not a toy.
- Always operate your model in an open space away from vehicles, traffic, and people.
- Follow operating notices, warnings, and any supporting equipment instructions (charger, batteries, etc.) carefully.
- Keep away from any chemicals; keep small parts and electrical components away from children.
- Always stay away from water, especially as this product is not waterproof; it will be damaged by moisture.
- Do not put any part of the model in your mouth, as it may cause serious injury or even death.
- Do not operate your model using low-voltage transmitter batteries.
Battery Warnings
- Caution: Always use a charger compatible with the batteries.
- Warning: Always charge batteries away from flammable materials.
- Warning: Never leave charging batteries unattended.
- Warning: Never charge damaged batteries.
- Warning: Never alter batteries.
- Warning: Never touch or use hot batteries.
- To ensure maximum safety, monitor the battery while it is charging.
- Do not allow children to charge the battery on their own, but ensure that an adult supervises the entire process.
- Caution: Lithium batteries may be damaged and may not charge properly when the voltage drops below 7.4V.
- After use, please turn off the battery as prolonged power-on time may shorten the battery lifespan. After flying, remove the battery from the cabin to prevent damage due to over-discharge.
3. Package Contents
The RTF (Ready-To-Fly) version package includes the following items:
| No. | Spare Parts | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blister Packaging | 1 |
| 2 | User Manual | 1 |
| 3 | Helicopter | 1 |
| 4 | Transmitter (Remote Control) | 1 |
| 5 | USB Cable | 1 |
| 6 | Battery 1200mAh 7.4V | 1 (or 2, 3 depending on variant) |
| 7 | Main Rotor Blade | 2 |
| 8 | Tail Rotor | 1 |
| Hexagonal Wrench | 1 | |
| Screwdrivers | 1 |
4. Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | E186 (Bell-206 6-channel Intelligent Aileronless Simulator Helicopter) |
| Length | 350 mm (Body), 390mm/15.35inch (Overall) |
| Height | 122 mm (Body), 122.7mm/4.8inch (Overall) |
| Weight | 290 g (Unit weight: 228g) |
| Main Rotor Diameter | 372 mm |
| Tail Rotor Diameter | 70 mm |
| Radio Frequency Band | 2.4GHz |
| Remote Control Distance | More than 120 meters |
| Body Battery | LI-POLY Smart Battery 7.4V (1200mAh) 25C |
| Charging Time | About 60-70 minutes |
| Flight Time | 11-13 minutes |
| Main Brushless Motor | 2511 1200KV |
| Brushless Tail Motor | 1204 5500KV |
| Material | High-strength composite materials (Metal, Plastic, Carbon Fiber) |
| Operator Skill Level | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Indoor/Outdoor Use | Outdoor |
| Control Channels | 6 channels |
| Controller Mode | MODE2 (Default) |
| Recommend Age | 14+y |
5. Battery Management
Battery Charging
For safety, use the provided standard charger.
- Connect the USB cable to a computer USB port or a power adapter.
- Connect the USB's other end (Type-C plug) to the battery for charging.
- During charging, the current battery level indicator will flash, and all four lights will remain solid when charging is complete.
- Disconnect the charging connection after charging is complete.
It is recommended to use a 5V 2A adapter for faster charging.
Battery Functions and Indicators
| Indicator Status | Battery Level |
|---|---|
| 4 lights on | 100% |
| 3 lights on | 75% |
| 2 lights on | 50% |
| 1 light on | 25% |
| 4 lights flashing | Low Battery |
6. Remote Control Functions
The remote control features:
- Throttle Unlock/Lock: Controls motor activation/deactivation.
- Power Switch: Press for seconds to power on.
- Throttle/Rudder Joystick: Controls vertical movement and yaw.
- Aileron/Elevator Joystick: Controls horizontal movement (roll and pitch).
- Debug Switch: (Not available in flight).
- One Touch Landing Button: Initiates automatic landing.
- Optical Flow Mode (Default): Engages optical flow positioning.
- Manual Mode (Down Dial): Switches to manual flight mode.
- Large and Small Rudder Volume Buttons: Adjusts rudder sensitivity.
- Toggle Left/Right Button: Used for power on (MODE2/MODE1 conversion), calibrating remote rocker, and aligning frequency binding.
Controller Mode
The factory default mode is MODE2 (left stick for throttle/rudder, right stick for aileron/elevator). The remote control lights up blue in MODE2. To switch to MODE1, press the MODE button to power on; the remote control will light up red and blue.
Remote Control Calibration
To calibrate the remote control joystick, move the size of the rudder control button to the right and power on. The remote control will beep three times. Keep the remote control still to calibrate.
Rudder Volume Setting
The remote control is set to small rudder volume by default. Move the button to the right for two beeps to set to large rudder volume, move the button to the left for a beep to set to small rudder volume.
7. Setup Instructions
Aircraft and Remote Control Frequency Binding
When purchasing, the remote control is usually pre-bound to the aircraft. If re-binding is necessary, follow these steps:
- Toggle the small rudder volume (L) key to the left, then open the remote control to enter frequency pairing mode. The remote control will emit a dropping sound, and its indicator light will flash fast.
- Power up the helicopter and turn on its battery switch. The aircraft indicator light will flash fast (yellow).
- Approach the aircraft to the remote control within 0.5m and keep the aircraft stationary.
- The remote control emits a dropping sound, and its indicator light lights up. The aircraft indicator light also returns to green. The frequency pairing is complete.
- If pairing is unsuccessful, repeat the above steps.
Gyroscope Calibration
After successful binding, perform gyroscope calibration. On the remote control (MODE2), hold the left joystick in the upper corner and the right joystick in the lower corner for 2-3 seconds. During this time, the aircraft's indicator light will flash yellow and then change to solid green, indicating that calibration is complete.
During gyroscope calibration, place the aircraft on a level surface to ensure accurate flight. Recalibration is only necessary if unable to exit initialization or if there is yaw drift in manual attitude mode.
Aircraft Locking
Switch the throttle lock switch down for a long beep to lock the aircraft, and switch it up to unlock. Locking while in the air will cause the motor to stop and crash.
8. Operating Instructions
First Flight
Familiarize yourself with the controls before your first flight.
Manual Motor Start/Stop
- Motor Start: Perform the throttle stick action to start the motor. Immediately release the stick after starting. Push the throttle stick upward by more than 50%, and the aircraft will take off.
- Motor Stop: After the vehicle lands, keep the throttle rocker in the lowest position for more than 3 seconds; the motor will stop spinning.
Aircraft Status Indicator Light Explanation
- Rapid yellow flashing: Aircraft self-checking. The aircraft should remain stationary until self-check is completed.
- Solid green: Downward visual optical flow mode. Limited to flying at a height of 8 meters.
- Slow green flashing: Poor downward visual environment. Lower the flight altitude or change the flying area.
- Solid red: Manual flight mode. Exercise close attention when flying manually.
- Slow red flashing: Low-level battery warning. Control the aircraft within visual range.
- Rapid red flashing: Critical-level battery warning. The aircraft will initiate an automatic landing.
Downward Vision Mode (Optical Flow) Precautions
The downward vision system relies on the camera to lock onto objects below and limits the takeoff altitude to 8 meters. Be aware of the surrounding environment during flight. The vision system cannot recognize surfaces without textured features and cannot function properly in environments with insufficient or excessive lighting. Avoid taking off from rooftops or flying over rooftops, as it may cause the downward vision to fail, resulting in aircraft drift. In such cases, immediately fly the aircraft back or switch to manual stability mode.
The downward vision system may not work in the following scenarios:
- Solid color surfaces (e.g., solid black, white, red, green)
- Surfaces with strong reflections or reflections
- Water surfaces or surfaces of transparent objects
- Surfaces of moving objects (e.g., above crowds, bushes, and grasses swaying in strong winds)
- Scenes with rapidly changing lighting conditions
- Surfaces that are exceptionally dark or exceptionally bright
- Surfaces of materials that have strong absorption or reflection of infrared
Manual Mode Flight
Pressing the manual mode button will turn off the optical flow flight mode. The aircraft status indicator light will be red, lifting the altitude restriction. The fastest flight speed can be up to 10 meters per second. Toggle the optical flow mode button upward again to turn on optical flow mode, and the aircraft status indicator light will be green.
One-Key Landing
During flight, long-press the One-Key Landing button. The aircraft will initiate a landing at its current position. You can still control the aircraft during landing. Pushing the throttle up will cancel the landing. Pressing the One-Key Landing button again will also cancel the function.
Expert Inverted Flight Mode
To enter inverted flight mode:
- Fly the aircraft to a height of 5 meters or more.
- Switch to large rudder volume state, then switch to manual flight mode.
- Press the inverted flight button for two seconds to enter one-key inverted flight mode.
- Quickly hit the aileron rocker to the left or right and quickly return to the center. The aircraft will automatically perform a 180-degree roll and hover.
Inverted flight operation is the same as forward flight. The throttle rocker controls climb, and pushing it forward moves the aircraft in the nose direction.
To exit inverted flight mode, press the one-key inverted flight button again, then quickly hit the aileron rocker. The aircraft will transition from inverted flight to forward flight state and return to normal flight.
Note: The craft only performs aileron rolls to the left or right, not forward and backward rolls.
Pitch Setting
When replacing servos or other major components, the pitch setting may be altered. Correct pitch setting contributes to stable flight.
- Power on the aircraft and bind it to the remote controller.
- Dial the throttle lock switch to the locked state, then long press the pitch setting button to make two drops to enter the pitch setting.
- Adjust the corresponding servo by the rocker until the aircraft cross disk is horizontal and the angle of the propeller is 0 degrees.
- Short press the lock button. The remote controller will unlock with a drop sound to exit the pitch setting and save it.
Note: Pitch setting should be done under the guidance of an experienced individual. Incorrect pitch setting can result in reduced flight performance.
9. Maintenance
- Regularly inspect rotor blades for any damage or wear. Replace immediately if necessary.
- Check the main shaft and cross-axis for any bending and replace them promptly.
- Ensure all electrical connections are secure and free from corrosion.
- Keep the helicopter clean and free from dust and debris.
- Store the helicopter and remote control in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Always remove the battery from the helicopter after use and before storage.
10. Common Troubleshooting
| No. | Issue | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | After powering on, the indicator light keeps flashing rapidly. | The aircraft is in gyroscope self-checking state. Please place the aircraft on a stationary and flat surface. |
| 2 | The aircraft tilts to one side and cannot hover after takeoff. | Place the aircraft on a level tabletop or surface and recalibrate the gyroscope. |
| 3 | The aircraft experiences severe shaking. | Check for damaged rotor blades and replace them with new ones. Inspect the main shaft and cross-axis for any bending and replace them promptly. |
| 4 | The aircraft cannot be unlocked, and the indicator light flashes red rapidly. | The battery voltage is too low. Please fully charge the battery. |
| 5 | Unstable flight in strong wind conditions. | Fly in appropriate weather conditions. The aircraft is suitable for flying in wind conditions up to level 4. |
| 6 | No response from the helicopter after power on, slow flashing light. | Rebind the frequency. During rebinding, the aircraft should be placed horizontally. |
| 7 | Slow flashing green light in downward vision flight mode. | Ground environment may affect the performance of the downward vision system. Please test in a different environment. |
| 8 | No power-on sound when connecting power to the helicopter. | The speed controller may be faulty or the plug connection is poor. Replace the speed controller and inspect the plug for timely replacement. |
| 9 | Continuous beeping from the remote control during flight. | The aircraft voltage is low, triggering a level 1 alarm. Replace the AAA batteries in the remote control. |
11. User Tips
- Practice in Open Spaces: Especially for beginners, start flying in a large, open area free from obstacles, people, and vehicles.
- Battery Care: Always ensure your battery is fully charged before each flight. Monitor battery levels during flight and land promptly when low battery warnings appear.
- Pre-Flight Check: Before every flight, visually inspect the helicopter for any damaged blades, loose connections, or signs of wear. Ensure the remote control batteries are also charged.
- Wind Conditions: While the E186 has some anti-wind ability, avoid flying in strong winds, especially when learning or attempting advanced maneuvers like inverted flight.
- Optical Flow Environment: For optimal performance of the optical flow positioning, fly over textured surfaces and avoid highly reflective or uniform colored grounds.
12. Warranty and Support
For detailed warranty information, technical support, and further assistance, please refer to the official user manual PDF provided by the manufacturer. You can access the PDF manual via this link: Eachine E186 User Manual PDF.
Please retain your proof of purchase for any warranty claims.
