Mavic Air Crash - Can I still fly it?

Mogni · Feb 2, 2019

Hi,
I borrowed my drone to a good friend for his honeymoon in South America. When he came back, he told me that on his first day he crashed the DJI (apparently his phone stoped working while he was in an automatic fly mode). Furthermore he told me, that he continued flying without any issues.

When I inspected the drone, I saw that on the left arm in front, the motor is now slightly visible (I attached a pic of the defect arm and one on the right side for comparison). The rotor seems to be safely in place but I wonder, if I could encounter any problems/issues if I continue flying it.

Did anyone encounter a similar problem or could help fixing it? Would it be sufficient to try and “press” it together (for now I didn’t want to use to much force and it didn’t work)?

Any help would be appreciated!

Cheers.

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes. I’m not used to write in English)

JDawg · Feb 2, 2019

That looks like and accident waiting to happen.
@Thunderdrones

Oneball 1971 · Feb 2, 2019

So the "good" friend didnt offer to pay to get it repaired then?

Former Member · Feb 2, 2019

Can anyone see what hes talking about? I'm on my phone and don't see anything abnormal

Oneball 1971 · Feb 2, 2019

Thunderdrones said:
Can anyone see what hes talking about? I'm on my phone and don't see anything abnormal

Image 1, there is a gap between the rotating part and static part of the motor, compared to image 2. As though it has drifted apart slightly.

Mogni · Feb 2, 2019

Thanks for the reply’s. He DID offer to pay for repairs but I wanted to check whether it was necessary...

Oneball 1971 · Feb 2, 2019

Mogni said:
Thanks for the reply’s. He DID offer to pay for repairs but I wanted to check whether it was necessary...

Oh thats good then, well if he is paying for it I'd get it repaired or at least checked over.

Blaksony · Feb 2, 2019

Thunderdrones said:
Can anyone see what hes talking about? I'm on my phone and don't see anything abnormal

The only thing I see is a slight gap between the motor upper shielding and lower venting on the left prop motor probably easier to see in the real rather than in a photo

Blaksony · Feb 2, 2019

I don’t trust myself flying a Mavic Air so it’s hard to see how you can trust someone with this but you know him better than we do. Test it carefully and or contact DJI and do a diagnostic on it. Mavic Air are flying tanks and this one looks ok to me. Usually in a good crash the props don’t do so well

JDawg · Feb 2, 2019

Thunderdrones said:
Can anyone see what hes talking about? I'm on my phone and don't see anything abnormal

My Air does not have this separation, I think this is what he is asking about.

Former Member · Feb 2, 2019

JDawg said:
My Air does not have this separation, I think this is what he is asking about.

View attachment 61504

Thank you for the clarification @JDawg

If I were the OP I would spin the motor to see if there is any friction different than the other 3 motors. That separation can't be a good thing but not sure it's fatal. I would also check to see if the can is loose.

Mogni · Feb 2, 2019

I don’t feel any difference when I’m spinning the rotor. And I can’t move the can at all. I’ll have a couple of test flights in an safe environments and will see how it goes.

Anyway, this has been super helpful and thanks to all of you for helping me out

SpinItUp · Feb 3, 2019

Looks as if the magnet/commutator

has been nocked out of skew slightly/lifted/pushed up

The full article with that image edited link (wrong)

Mogni · Feb 3, 2019

SpinItUp said:
Looks as if the magnet/commutator

has been nocked out of skew slightly/lifted/pushed up

The full article with that image edited link (wrong)

Thanks for the info. Do you think that this is a big problem/ has to be fixed before flying it? Any ideas on how to fix it?

SpinItUp · Feb 3, 2019

wouldn't know without it in front of me
there's zero chance of the magnetic part coming loose but I would definitely worry about what's housing it i.e the gap showing
if it was mine I would get a new leg with the motor and replace it then take the damaged1 apart to see what's happened and

if it's still okay

JDawg · Feb 3, 2019

I am very curious how it is connected. Have you tried mildly pushing it down to see if there is play?

JDawg · Feb 3, 2019

Sorry I remember you said the Can doesn't move at all. I would be nervous to fly this anywhere but my backyard. Something moved and maybe it can be reseated but I would be uncomfortable until I knew.

Mogni · Feb 3, 2019

JDawg said:
I am very curious how it is connected. Have you tried mildly pushing it down to see if there is play?
View attachment 61738

Yeah I have, but it seems absolutely secure (ie not even slightly moving). But obviously I didn’t push to hard as I’m scared of doing more damage ;-)

SpinItUp · Feb 3, 2019

~~it could break free at any moment due to the knock~~ only in the worst-case scenario
I would
check the motors as shown there at the start of the tutorial just by undoing the screws holding them on
The motors are held in place with 3 screws which can be accessed by removing the landing feet under each motor.

https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/blog/wp-c...1/dji-mavic-air-teardown-rear-landing-leg.jpg
The same applies to the front legs with the folding antennas. You just need to remove a screw first.

JDawg · Feb 3, 2019

If you decide to tear it down yourself you will need a mini Torx set. I had an arm come loose and went to a nearby Harbor Freight and bought one that had the T4, T6, T7, T8, T9 and T10 and I ended up needing the T5