First few times I tried manual freestyle mode, it was exhilirating. Loops, rolls, dives. It was fantastic. Then, even after more work on the sim and in sportmode, it was almost back to the repair shop. I did a loop and then a roll at 400 feet. Normally I brake between maneuvers but this time something went wrong and I went straight into a roll, during which the drone started to slip. Everything went pear shaped incredibly quickly. I pulled out with about 2 metres to spare at well over 100Ks/hr .
As things started to go wrong, I pushed the brake button, but nothing seemed to happen. I somehow corrected it myself a milisecond before impact. Dont ask me how, brain panic, muscle memory and lady luck combined into the correct action. (Possible) brake non response being investigated by a friend at DJI. My own feeling is I had insufficient throttle when rolling, so she ended up doing a side slip then stalled. From great flight at 400 feet to almost hit the ground in 8 seconds.
Mistake 1: I didn't follow my own advice of start in normal, switch to S mode then go manual which forces you to centre the sticks and take stock of your height, attitude etc.
Mistake 2: I didnt brake after each maneuver and recenter the sticks and myself.
Mistake 3: I had accidentally left the switch in manual mode from the last days flight. I also had limiters turned off. The flight didn't feel right from the moment I took off but I (yes stupidly) continued. In my own defence a vehicle drove past me just as I was preparing for takeoff and I watched it to checked out where it was heading.
Lesson learnt?
I always set a maximum range. For my level of experience, that's the correct thing to do.
I had scouted the area prior to flight for people and vehicles. Good job I did as there could have been a serious accident. The site (a very large park) was completely clear when I arrived. It reinforced my policy of flying the FPV in manual when people are at work and kids at school
If it doesn't feel right, land straight away if possible. Work out the issue on the ground not in the air.
You need a very large open and empty space to fly freestyle as (at least for my level of experience) it is dangerous not to do so.
Check your controller settings before you take of, Simple I know but easily forgotten if distracted.
Put controller settings back to standard after flying.
I did some checking on the internet. At 140k/hr the kinetic energy of the
DJI FPV is apparently 526 foot pounds, That is an awful lot of "head whack" for some unsuspecting person on the ground.
3 days later I still think of the ïncident"" and at what could have happened. Hopefully, people learn from what I did wrong, but also what I did right. Top of my mind was safety, safety, safety. It worked.
I will try freeestyle again
one day, but right now, I will stick to
limited manual at height, and simulator freestyle, its safer, you have more time to respond and brake, less potential hassle and I get to sleep at night.
