Sudden crash: my fault or DJI's

MavicCF · Jun 18, 2017

Hi all! Hoping to get some help from you guys about todays crash. I was out for a typical routine flight above a friends house. I had been cruising around for a while and decided to flip into sport mode. As soon as I pitched forward in sport mode, it flipped (I think) over the front left corner and proceeded in a succession of summersaults to the ground. The results aren't pretty. The gimbal/camera are almost completely ripped off, the front right landing gear/antenna is broken, and the top of the body is popped up. I'm guessing either a prop or a motor failure although it could have been one of the small birds in the area. I was hoping I could get someone to analyze my flight records for me and tell me if it was my fault or if DJI is likely to eat this one. First though, I need to know how to upload theses records to this sight. Thanks in advance! -CF

Former Member · Jun 18, 2017

When you landed, were all 4 props still attached and what was their condition?

Cyberpower678 · Jun 18, 2017

I always prefer analyzing the DAT files of the flight. Please upload it to a Dropbox and link it here by following the instructions below.

How to retrieve a .DAT

Former Member · Jun 19, 2017

Pathogen said:
(grabs popcorn and watch the show)

Move along, nothing to see here.

Pathogen · Jun 19, 2017

Thunderdrones said:
Move along, nothing to see here.

Hey what the, who's hacking this forum! ;-)

I am curious though because if it was user error somehow, and therefor the craft was functioning, then it suggests the Mavic can't recover from being inverted. What do you think DJI?

MavicCF · Jun 19, 2017

Thunderdrones said:
When you landed, were all 4 props still attached and what was their condition?

Yes, all four props were attached. Back left was intact, front left and back right was missing one blade, front right was missing large chunks. It came down hard from 150 feet in some scrub, Battery popped off too.

dj_ricecube · Jun 19, 2017

Thunderdrones said:
When you landed, were all 4 props still attached and what was their condition?

Curious...what does it indicate if the props were still attached or not?

Former Member · Jun 19, 2017

Pathogen said:
Hey what the, who's hacking this forum! ;-)

I am curious though because if it was user error somehow, and therefor the craft was functioning, then it suggests the Mavic can't recover from being inverted. What do you think DJI?

Ive never tried to right a Mavic after being inverted, but it will try to right itself straight into the ground, and then keep spinning the props once it hits the ground as long as the battery is still connected. I had one go up in smoke after it hit the ground inverted, and the motors kept trying to spin.

Bunny Too · Jun 19, 2017

dj_ricecube said:
Curious...what does it indicate if the props were still attached or not?

Often, when the Mavic fails in this cataclysmic of a manner it may be because a prop was not attached properly.

MavicCF · Jun 19, 2017

Working on trying to get the DAT files but where in the world do I get Assistant 2 (Mac).

Bunny Too · Jun 19, 2017

MavicCF said:
Working on trying to get the DAT files but where in the world do I get Assistant 2 (Mac).

From the Mavic download page on DJI website.
Mavic – Specs, FAQ, Tutorials and Downloads

Former Member · Jun 19, 2017

MavicCF said:
I'm guessing either a prop or a motor failure although it could have been one of the small birds in the area.

dj_ricecube said:
Curious...what does it indicate if the props were still attached or not?

Op says all 4 props were still attached at the crash site. So maybe not a prop detachment, but posssibly prop failure.

It makes a difference if the props are intact and/or attached after the crash. The OP was wondering if a prop or motor failed. A prop spinning off would probably make the Mavic spin into the ground, but not cartwheel, but who knows. If the props were still attached after impact, that means one of the didnt come loose or become detached.

MavicCF said:
summersaults

Do you think it Somersaulted or cartwheeled or spun?

This is a somersault:

This is a cartwheel:

and this is a spin:

MavicCF · Jun 19, 2017

Bunny Too said:
From the Mavic download page on DJI website.
Mavic – Specs, FAQ, Tutorials and Downloads

Thanks, just found it. Now waiting as it downloads.

MavicCF · Jun 19, 2017

Thunderdrones said:
Op says all 4 props were still attached at the crash site. So maybe not a prop detachment, but posssibly prop failure.

It makes a difference if the props are intact and/or attached after the crash. The OP was wondering if a prop or motor failed. A prop spinning off would probably make the Mavic spin into the ground, but not cartwheel, but who knows. If the props were still attached after impact, that means one of the didnt come loose or become detached

Do you think it Somersaulted or cartwheeled or spun?

This is a somersault:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

This is a cartwheel:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

and this is a spin:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

It definitely somersaulted.

Pathogen · Jun 19, 2017

Thunderdrones said:
Ive never tried to right a Mavic after being inverted, but it will try to right itself straight into the ground, and then keep spinning the props once it hits the ground as long as the battery is still connected. I had one go up in smoke after it hit the ground inverted, and the motors kept trying to spin.

Tragic but interesting. I wonder how long it will be when we see a promo video of someone tossing a drone off of a tall building, and then watch it right itself?

MavicCF · Jun 19, 2017

Pathogen said:
Tragic but interesting. I wonder how long it will be when we see a promo video of someone tossing a drone off of a tall building, and then watch it right itself?

You can do it with racing quads! I used to launch mine by throwing it frisbee-like into the sky and then starting the motors!

Former Member · Jun 19, 2017

Pathogen said:
Tragic but interesting. I wonder how long it will be when we see a promo video of someone tossing a drone off of a tall building, and then watch it right itself?

There have been many occasions during a Mavic repair that I wanted to do exactly that, and not care if it righted itself or not before it hit the ground.

MavicCF · Jun 19, 2017

Thunderdrones said:
There have been many occasions during a Mavic repair that I wanted to do exactly that, and not care if it righted itself or not before it hit the ground.

Lol

. I was actually considering doing that as I think this Mavic is toast.

Former Member · Jun 19, 2017

MavicCF said:
Lol. I was actually considering doing that as I think this Mavic is toast.

I was just joking. Dont give up on it. If you think theres a chance DJI will cover it under warranty, it's worth a shot. Even if they have to repair it under Refresh or out of pocket, it's worth getting repaired.