Lost Mavic Help!! I am terrified!

[daithi23]

it was my first week with the Mavic but I have owned other DJI's in the past and used the mavic every other day for farm revisions.

Ah right, misunderstood when you said you just bought it and it you lost it after 12 minutes of using it..

 

[Robbyg]

Very Limited info in those files. It tried to come home then it you cancelled and went into sports mode and then it tried to go home again. You had the right home posistion but either the wind was too high or the compass was messed up. It always seemed to be heading in the wrong direction. I have tried to calculate based on the last speed, remaining battery and heading where it should be. If you hurry it might still have enough battery power that you can get a signal lock again. I am not BudWalker and the data is limited but from what I can see this is the best place to look.
Good luck



Rob

 

[Strafe1]

Did you interrupt the RTH and go back into Sports mode? looks like you were in RTH mode from 6m 3s to 7m 12.9s then sports mode again until 7m 50s where RTH was reinitiated.
It wasn't even heading back to home when it was supposed to be so, just heading further away. Not sure what DJI's policy is regards this kind of thing but personally it looks more like a Mavic problem than operator error...
If the default set-up is to land when battery reaches 10% and it continued in a straight line after the last signal at 39% then maybe you can roughly calculate how far it travelled and the distance from the home point. Might be able to at least figure out the general area it went down.

Not sure about it being a Mavic problem..when he put it in sport mode, cancelling RTH, the operator flew it further away. Prior to that, and when he reengaged RTH later, it started coming back, slowly. Possibly due to high winds. Probably should have brought it down (he was at 1000') to minimize the wind effect.

 

[borislip]

It got excellent GPS according to the log. All the time. Even with heavily miss-calibrated compass/IMU, GPS should have compensated for it.

 

[daithi23]

Not sure about it being a Mavic problem..when he put it in sport mode, cancelling RTH, the operator flew it further away. Prior to that, and when he reengaged RTH later, it started coming back, slowly. Possibly due to high winds. Probably should have brought it down (he was at 1000') to minimize the wind effect.

Beginning to think that too, didn't realise initially what a factor the wind was in this

 

[Shayneb123]

Looks like the wind speed was pretty hi. The rth speed was very slow and he was up 1000 feet and over 7000 feet away with 39% battery. I'm going to guess it never made it home and may or may not have landed safely. Not sure if 10% battery would be enough to land safely 1000 feet up. I could be wrong but even at 400 feet it takes a while to land.

 

[devin120]

Just want to say. When you hit rth/smart rth activated... Why did you leave the home point.....Get in your car, and drive away from the home point?

Maybe the homepoint was dynamic? And it was trying to land but you wouldn't let it......Sorry if this is not a probable point.

ANYWAYS. Smart rth would of stopped this. Somethings up.

 

[devin120]

wait. Look. You toggled the sport switch 3 times in less then a certain amount of time. this enters calibration. After your speed diminishes significantly. And your never able to get back up to speed. Looks like your issue starts there? Any thoughts?

3m 38.2s

P-GPS 20satellites 1,001.0ft 35.1mph 7,542.7ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 2.9s)
3m 38.6s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 32.6mph 7,552.8ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.7s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 17.3mph 7,555.0ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.8s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 14.7mph 7,557.0ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.9s Sport 20satellites 1,000.3ft 13.3mph 7,558.8ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 39.2s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.3ft 10.9mph 7,563.3ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 39.3s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.3ft 9.7mph 7,564.5ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 39.7s Sport 19satellites 1,000.3ft 7.5mph 7,568.7ft 75% 11.661V 3.887V 3.887V 3.887V 0V
3m 32.5s Sport 19satellites 1,001.3ft 38.5mph 7,266.7ft 77% 11.509V 3.836V 3.836V 3.836V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.6s)
3m 32.7s Sport 19satellites 1,001.6ft 38.4mph 7,276.9ft 77% 11.509V 3.836V 3.836V 3.836V 0V
3m 33.9s Sport 19satellites 1,001.3ft 37.8mph 7,337.8ft 77% 11.509V 3.836V 3.836V 3.836V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.2s)
3m 34.3s Sport 19satellites 1,001.3ft 37.9mph 7,358.3ft 77% 11.509V 3.836V 3.836V 3.836V 0V
3m 35s Sport 19satellites 1,001.3ft 38.5mph 7,394.0ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 35.3s Sport 19satellites 1,001.3ft 38.7mph 7,409.4ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.2s P-GPS 20satellites 1,001.0ft 35.1mph 7,542.7ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 2.9s)
3m 38.6s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 32.6mph 7,552.8ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.7s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 17.3mph 7,555.0ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.8s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 14.7mph 7,557.0ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 38.9s Sport 20satellites 1,000.3ft 13.3mph 7,558.8ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 39.2s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.3ft 10.9mph 7,563.3ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 39.3s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.3ft 9.7mph 7,564.5ft 76% 11.425V 3.808V 3.808V 3.808V 0V
3m 39.7s Sport 19satellites 1,000.3ft 7.5mph 7,568.7ft 75% 11.661V 3.887V 3.887V 3.887V 0V
3m 39.9s Sport 19satellites 1,000.0ft 6.8mph 7,570.4ft 75% 11.661V 3.887V 3.887V 3.887V 0V
3m 40.2s P-GPS 19satellites 1,000.0ft 4.5mph 7,571.9ft 75% 11.661V 3.887V 3.887V 3.887V 0V
3m 40.3s Sport 19satellites 1,000.0ft 3.4mph 7,572.3ft 75% 11.661V 3.887V 3.887V 3.887V 0V
3m 40.5s Sport 19satellites 1,000.3ft 2.9mph 7,573.1ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V
3m 40.7s Sport 20satellites 1,000.0ft 2.7mph 7,573.7ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V
3m 47s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.3ft 0mph 7,575.2ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.3s)
3m 47.3s Sport 20satellites 1,000.0ft 0mph 7,575.3ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V
3m 49.6s Sport 20satellites 1,000.0ft 0.1mph 7,575.6ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.5s)
3m 50.1s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.0ft 0mph 7,575.5ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V
3m 50.3s Sport 20satellites 1,000.0ft 0mph 7,575.5ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V
3m 51.9s P-GPS 20satellites 1,000.7ft 0.2mph 7,575.3ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.1s)
3m 52.3s Sport 20satellites 1,000.7ft 0.1mph 7,575.2ft 75% 11.664V 3.888V 3.888V 3.888V 0V
3m 54.5s Sport 20satellites 1,001.6ft 0.2mph 7,575.4ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 0.9s)
3m 55s Sport 20satellites 1,001.6ft 0mph 7,575.4ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
3m 58.3s Sport 20satellites 1,001.0ft 0.6mph 7,577.1ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 2.4s)
3m 58.5s Sport 19satellites 1,000.7ft 0.6mph 7,577.3ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
3m 58.7s Sport 20satellites 1,001.3ft 0mph 7,577.3ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
3m 58.8s Sport 19satellites 1,001.3ft 1.0mph 7,577.2ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
4m 1.6s Sport 19satellites 1,003.6ft 0.3mph 7,576.1ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 2.7s)
4m 3.7s Sport 18satellites 1,002.6ft 0.4mph 7,577.0ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 2s)
4m 3.9s Sport 19satellites 1,002.3ft 0.4mph 7,577.0ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
4m 5.5s Sport 20satellites 1,002.3ft 0mph 7,577.0ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.6s)
4m 7.6s Sport 20satellites 1,003.6ft 0mph 7,576.9ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.1s)
4m 9.1s Sport 19satellites 1,003.0ft 0mph 7,576.8ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1s)
4m 9.5s Sport 18satellites 1,002.6ft 0mph 7,576.9ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
4m 10.1s Sport 19satellites 1,002.3ft 0mph 7,576.9ft 74% 11.786V 3.929V 3.929V 3.929V 0V
4m 10.6s Sport 20satellites 1,001.3ft 0mph 7,577.0ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 11.8s Sport 20satellites 1,000.3ft 0.7mph 7,577.9ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 0.9s)
4m 13.7s P-GPS 19satellites 997.7ft 0mph 7,577.7ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1s)
4m 14.6s Sport 18satellites 999.0ft 0.4mph 7,578.4ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 0.9s)
4m 15.9s Sport 17satellites 999.7ft 0.5mph 7,577.6ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1s)
4m 16.5s Sport 18satellites 999.7ft 0mph 7,577.5ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 17.3s P-GPS 18satellites 999.3ft 0mph 7,577.7ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 17.6s Sport 18satellites 998.7ft 0.5mph 7,578.1ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 19s P-GPS 18satellites 999.3ft 0mph 7,577.7ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.4s)
4m 19.7s Sport 18satellites 997.7ft 0.4mph 7,578.2ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 19.9s Sport 19satellites 998.0ft 1.0mph 7,578.5ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 20.3s Sport 18satellites 999.0ft 1.0mph 7,578.9ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 20.9s P-GPS 18satellites 1,001.0ft 0mph 7,578.6ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V
4m 21.9s Sport 19satellites 1,000.0ft 0.8mph 7,579.7ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1s)
4m 23.4s P-GPS 18satellites 1,000.7ft 0.9mph 7,581.0ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.5s)
4m 26.7s Sport 17satellites 1,000.7ft 1.1mph 7,585.4ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 3.3s)
4m 27.9s Sport 18satellites 1,001.0ft 0.5mph 7,583.3ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 0m 1.2s)
6m 3s Go Home 20satellites 1,001.6ft 4.6mph 7,212.8ft 72% 11.747V 3.916V 3.916V 3.916V 0V Downlink Restored (after 1m 34.9s)

 

[Cyberpower678]

Sorry but I have to be bluntly honest, your drone is probably lost. The drone was too far away to make it back on the battery level it had, IMO, and it appears to have been headed in the wrong direction. I'm working on some analysis to extrapolate probable locations it may have ended up in.

 

[Cyberpower678]

So here's my analysis of possible drone landing spots. It it continued on the current heading and assuming the battery reached 10% and started landing, going at the last seen speed, it will have likely ended up in a 300m proximity to the coordinates 12° 4'41.75"N and 86°15'53.49"W.

That would put it around see below.

Let's assume it actually did start to return home instead from the last know location.

That would put in a 300m radius of the coordinates 12° 4'29.31"N and 86°15'3.85"W.
See below

 

[devin120]

So that means pilot error? Did not account for winds in rth conditions?

 

[Cyberpower678]

So that means pilot error? Did not account for winds in rth conditions?

I see both. The pilot error is that the drone was being flown out past the point where the signal was decent. I'm not talking about data loss points. That's easily recovered from. The signal was already very poor halfway through and the operator pushed forward. The operator continued to fly past safe return levels in the battery thus leaving insufficient battery for the drone to return home on its own power. The RTH failed, upon realizing this the operator should have flown it back manually. I doubt this will be covered by warranty unless the drone can be recovered.

 

[msinger]

bvogel, since wind was such a large factor here, it's going to be tough to calculate an accurate landing area. The best you can do is assume the Mavic continued on a similar flight path since it was traveling in a pretty consistent direction and speed in last couple of minutes of your flight log.

At the end of your flight log, the battery had about 4 minutes of remaining flight time available. At the altitude your Mavic was flying at the time (283.3 meters), it would have taken it about 1.8 minutes to land after the battery reached the critically low level. Assuming it continued to fly in the same direction and at a similar speed, it should have landed around the red area below.

 

[_milo_]

The Mavic flight controller limits maximum pitch and roll, engaging sport mode increases the limits and enables you to be able to fly more aggressively and handle windier conditions.

The little annoying wind red pop up box, warning that RTH may not be able to compensate the wind, is warning that what happened to the OP, may happen to you. RTH pitch and roll limits may not be able to overcome the wind! Flying far and high with a tail wind, and loosing link, can result in a RTH that doesn't make it back, better to keep it close, or fly into the headwind, and come back with the tail wind.

I fly in windy conditions, but wouldn't be flying high and far with such a strong tailwind, turn around and check your speed against the wind. Its up to us to evaluate conditions and decide if we fly, or wait for a better weather.

 

[AlanTheBeast]

It was heading towards La Aurora.

• -upload your .txt file to HealthyDrones as a guest.
• -download the KML file
• -load that into Google Earth
• -extrapolate the last flight path

Start your ground search. Could be very difficult.

Spread the word around that there is such a drone lost along that path and you're willing to pay for its recovery.

Msinger's more accurate estimate would be a better place to start, of course! (Just saw it after posting this).

 

[Cyberpower678]

It was heading towards La Aurora.

• -upload your .txt file to HealthyDrones as a guest.
• -download the KML file
• -load that into Google Earth
• -extrapolate the last flight path

Start your ground search. Could be very difficult.

Spread the word around that there is such a drone lost along that path and you're willing to pay for its recovery.

Msinger's more accurate estimate would be a better place to start, of course! (Just saw it after posting this).

View attachment 7805

I also provided an alternative location should the drone actually have started back to home. I think the drone flew a little further out than Msinger predicts, but given available information, it's really hard to make an accurate prediction. I just crunched numbers and extrapolated that the drone was able to fly at least another 1078m, including the time it took to descend to the ground at 3 m/s.

 

[Pp09nlk2n]

For what it's worth, I had a "blown down wind issue" as well. Thought all was lost. Folks on the forum helped draw the line (Msinger) and 3 days later I went out, walked down the line, and there it was, sitting there all happy to see me and everything still worked.

Good luck. Take the walk, it is worth checking.

 

[AlanTheBeast]

I also provided an alternative location should the drone actually have started back to home. I think the drone flew a little further out than Msinger predicts, but given available information, it's really hard to make an accurate prediction. I just crunched numbers and extrapolated that the drone was able to fly at least another 1078m, including the time it took to descend to the ground at 3 m/s.

That's great. At least the OP has some guidance that may work - whether yours or msinger's it's at least confined to a smaller area.

If that doesn't work, he could offer some enticement to local kids to get out there to locate it (along with instructions to treat it gently).

This is one reason why I skinned my drone bright orange. The Mavic Grey is not designed for SAR.

 

[Pp09nlk2n]

Other thought-
Some folks attach GPS trackers to their drone (like Trackimo) to make locating it easier.

I was going to get one but just saw the other thread where people got state farm insurance for their drone for $30 a year which would cover crash and loss, so I think that sounds like best option.

 

[Robbyg]

So here's my analysis of possible drone landing spots. It it continued on the current heading and assuming the battery reached 10% and started landing, going at the last seen speed, it will have likely ended up in a 300m proximity to the coordinates 12° 4'41.75"N and 86°15'53.49"W.

That would put it around see below.
View attachment 7761
Let's assume it actually did start to return home instead from the last know location.

That would put in a 300m radius of the coordinates 12° 4'29.31"N and 86°15'3.85"W.
See below
View attachment 7762

We are just about on the same page but while you came up with 1000ft I calculated it to be about 1150ft. I also looked at the mountain ranges and figured it would drift further to the right from the straight line path, especially during decent when it would have as long way down and tons of wind.

Personally I think if he had gotten to either location and the Mavic still had power he would have gotten a signal, but at this point finding it visually is going to require a whole bunch of luck.

Rob