array + empty twisting effect

i’m trying to follow a tut but don’t get the same thing
for an array and an empty

as soon as empty is added it makes a twisting effect which should not be there

mind you this might be usefull for something else but

in this case it should not twist like that

see pic

the thread is for the IK spline
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1542387#post1542387

so how to add the empty wthout the twisting effect ?

any help appreciated
Thanks