Crash!

Luca Brazzi · Dec 16, 2017

Well....I had Spike out for a run today and I noticed some light jello effect so I took him home and calibrated the gimbal and put brand new props on. I went out my front yard to test things and took Spike up to about 235 feet when all hell broke loose! He came cartwheeling straight down. I had thrown a prop! I checked them but that's for another thread. According to my flight log, my downward velocity was in excess of 50 mph. Fortunately, he landed into a very large shrub and visual damage is the new props. I ran it without props and then the old props shortly. No issues noted. I'm enroute to get new props. Aside from calibrating the gimbal again does anybody suggest any other proactive measures after a crash?

Luca Brazzi · Dec 16, 2017

Anybody?......

Xtreme Drone Pilot · Dec 16, 2017

Luca Brazzi said:
does anybody suggest any other proactive measures after a crash?

Yes. Check that props are attached properly. 100%

ac0j · Dec 16, 2017

I need to make a preflight checklist because I am sometimes in a hurry to get in the air.

REMOVE gimble cover and clamp.
check all four props for damage and make sure they are firmly attached.
Make sure battery is locked in and secure.
Then power everything up
make sure gps is locked
make sure home point and rth values are correct for the flight about to take place.
try not to drool on the ipad screen during flight.

Luca Brazzi · Dec 16, 2017

Thanks guys. I do that and THOUGHT the props were all good when I checked them. Im more concerned if aside from the gimbal, should I recalibrate anything else?

GlenT · Dec 17, 2017

After a big bump like that, I would re calibrate the IMU for sure. Wouldn't hurt and is a good precautionary measure.
It's amazing how robust these wee things are, but the IMU is such a sensitive component and a little TLC goes a long way.
Hope she's up and flying straight as an arrow soon.

McToddy · Dec 25, 2017

@Luca Brazzi so, do you think the prop wasn't properly locked? (We're you able to find the thrown prop?)

Luca Brazzi · Dec 25, 2017

McToddy said:
@Luca Brazzi so, do you think the prop wasn't properly locked? (We're you able to find the thrown prop?)

I wasn't able to find it but there's no doubt in my mind that I flubbed the prop change.

Luca Brazzi · Dec 25, 2017

GlenT said:
After a big bump like that, I would re calibrate the IMU for sure. Wouldn't hurt and is a good precautionary measure.
It's amazing how robust these wee things are, but the IMU is such a sensitive component and a little TLC goes a long way.
Hope she's up and flying straight as an arrow soon.

Thanks Glen
I haven't been able to fly much since then due to weather and life but I went out yesterday. The gimbal bumped and jerked and then I had horrible jello. I took it home and calibrated the gimbal and the IMU then went outside and did a fly around. Steady as a rock.