— PLEASE READ ALL INFO BELOW BEFORE POSTING! —
I planned to perform a short GPS controlled high altitude flight, going straight up, and then straight down again.
When initating the descent, something did not work out as expected, and less than ten minutes later the hexacopter crashed because the failed descent attempts had drained the battery.
Technical explanation to what actually happened:
The GPS mode prioritized staying in place over descending. The winds were so strong that the engines had to work hard to keep the multirotor in place. When I told the multirotor to descend it basically said “I’m afraid I can’t do that, because you told me to stay in this position, and if I slow down the motors to descend, I would also start moving sideways with the wind”. The solution was to disengage the GPS mode.
Important background information:
This video depicts a very dangerous situation that could have ended up much worse than it actually did.
I was very lucky not to cause any damage on the ground to either living beings or property.
I am not proud of this particular flight, and my main reason for putting the video on YouTube is to inform others and hopefully help them avoid making the same mistake(s) I did.
My arguments for performing a high altitude flight at all were as follows:
– No airplanes in this area ever fly as low as I did in the video
– There is generally not much air traffic in this area at all
– I checked with flightradar24.com before flying
– Military, police, and emergency flights are virtually non-existant in this area
– The multirotor was supposed to go straight up and straight down again
Knowing all of this, I still realize it was a mistake flying that high, especially on this particular occasion. The wind on the ground was not very strong, but higher up, the wind was so strong that the hexacopter had to struggle to stay in position. When I started descending, the hexacopter did not seem to respond to my command, and the only way to make it respond was to disconnect the GPS mode. It then started descending, but it also started moving away with the wind.
Facts to be noted before commenting on the video:
I DO NOT PERFORM HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHTS ANYMORE, NOR DO I FLY OVER POPULATED AREAS. Hence, it is unnecessary to ask me to stop flying like I did in the video, since it definitely won’t happen again anyway. The crash was a harsh wakeup call that totally made me rethink my attitude towards multirotor flying, and I realize now that high altitude flights and flights over populated areas are way too risky and dangerous.
THE MULTIROTOR DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE ON THE GROUND, TO EITHER PEOPLE, ANIMALS, OR PROPERTY. Having said this, I am fully aware that something disastrous could have happened, and there is no need to keep reminding me about that fact.
I WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE MULTIROTOR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY PERFORM A CONTROLLED LANDING IF THE BATTERY LEVEL REACHED ITS SPECIFIED MINIMUM. After reading the documentation, I felt reassured knowing that I had specified two battery level limits, where the second (lowest) limit, if reached, would initiate a forced automatic landing. Apparently this never happened, so this was either a misunderstanding on my behalf, or unclear documentation, or a combination of both.
Also, I do not live in the US, so the FAA will probably not be too interested in this flight.
My advice to any and all multirotor flyers out there: Never ever take any unnecessary risks. It is never worth it. I got away with it this time, but I could as well have ended up hurting or even killing someone on the ground.
Equipment:
– Frame: DJI F550
– Gyro: DJI Naza v2 with GPS
– Gimbal: DJI Zenmuse H3-2D
– Camera: GoPro Hero3, Black Edition
– Radio: Futaba T14SG with receiver R7008SB
– Battery: Li-Po 4S (14.8V), 6200 mAh
– Motors: Stock F550 (DJI 2212/920)
– Esc: Stock F550 (DJI ESC 30 amps OPTO)
– Propellers: Stock DJI 10″
Stefan, thanks for sharing your video and lessons learned. If just one
person learns from your experience, it would be worthwhile!
Beautiful Video with very, very wonderful Pictures..
seems to me that maybe the gps mode code needs to put a priority on
reducing elevation if that is want to the operator is trying to do instead
of it’s lat and long position. That way it can get out of the stronger
higher elevation air currents.
wow fantastic vid thanks for sharing, love you hobby Stefan.
Awesome. I just kept saying, “dive, dive, dive!!!!” LMAO.
Bra film! Sjukt vad högt man kommer! Gött att du fick tillbaks den!
great video. love it.
why fly so high I fly a drone also I am have with going 200 feet that it
and more i think marsparachutes.com.
I’m glad it was returned even though it was damaged.
“There is generally not much air traffic in this area at all” – generally
doesn’t mean “always”…
What an ugly place to live
Ok, nice car
Thanks for uploading this man. I really appreciate it
I have no idea about the legalities but I have to say once you started
watching, it was pretty hard to stop. I found it utterly riveting, best 10
mins on youtube..
This is actually a very helpful video, thank you for posting.
amazing!
Even though it was stupid what a great video it made being above the
clouds,
Love the video. Could totally feel the tension when the battery was drained
to the dangerous level.
Gosh!, looks like someone of the FFA (or is it FAA) visited you 🙂
Awesome video of a nice Sunny sky when it’s cloudy downstears! :-)
gopro is ok!
Seeing that I live in America flights like this are illegal and are why the
FAA is cracking down upon drone hobbyists because of people doing things
like this. However that being said you learned the lesson and live in
Sweden where things are more of a guideline and not rules. Definately
learned your lesson and thank goodness no one was harmed or any property.
Property can be fixed sadly a person getting cracked in the head would have
been killed. Good thing you learned a lesson and dont do it anymore. Nice
drone though
it’s too dangerous.through i have dji drone too. but still fly carefully
Here you well see videos done by hobby remote controlled quadcopters from
all over the planet showing sick and dying trees.
Maybe the moisture in the clouds screwed with your control board. Just a
theory.
Truly feel that you only posted this to get hits on your channel and feel
cool. because of people like you this will eventually become illegal to fly
rc. You are out for your own self glory. Don’t say it’s a warning for
others. Bs! You thought you were to cool for getting away with it and had
to show off. Just like a criminal who steals something expensive. I hope
you get caught. Note to others – stay within legal guidelines. Break the
rules for safety and we will all lose our rights to fly rc crafts. No need
to ever go that high. It is truly a privilege and if you feel the need to
go higher then get a pilots license. If you can’t at least see your
aircraft you don’t know if you are in harms way.
Drone-0 gravity-1 fantastic view tho
I plan on trying this tomorrow, wish me luck!
What are you using to transmit your video feed?
I flew above the clouds and stayed there knowing your battery is at dangerously low levels…
Its sad how you have to explain your flight in such detail. Fuck the complainers, just enjoy the video people!
he did it…!
Its dangerous to fly drones that high, did you get clearance to do that?
This ladies and gents is why we will lost our drone privileges. Imagine it falling on a person
Thanks you give Drones a bad name, it’s crap like this that will force the authorities to ban them, dickhead.
Cool clip man ????????
omg, its so scary. but you are awesome ! so what happened to that drone nowadays?
Nice …
You do understand the difference between a Helicopter and a multirotor, right?
This is a multirotor/hexacopter in your video, not a helicopter.
Helicopters actually take skill to fly.
Ive never crashed my phantom pro 3 because i dont do dumb shit like this.
clouds are a hoax.
I was given a drone for christmas. This is a great example of what not to do, and a great evaluation of what happened/how to avoid any extra problems. I also am a skydiver, and to be above the clouds, 3500, 4000 feet up on parachute descent looks just like this. a jump is only 50 bucks after being granted a license, you’ve made me want to focus on that again! haha. Thanks for the post and explanations!
Camera spins its called rolling…. Not weird one bit
7:58 if the batts where totally drained the thing would of just stopped working and fell!! Dick!! The batts maintain a small bit of power to descend in landing
disable the comments, cancer is what most comments are
great video!!
Thank you for posting this, please leave it up.
You are liable for any damage caused by drone. You can also be prosecuted criminally. Manslaughter or criminal negligence, 3-10 years, that’s not at one of the FUN prisons. Brain damage an infant or toddler, millions $$$$. Some people don’t forgive this level of stupidity, could get very REAL.
Next time calculate Kinetic Energy of aircraft: 1/2 mass kilos times the square of terminally velocity in meters/sec = joules. Then have someone hit you in back of head with same energy. Then reevaluate.
Looks like a nice place
Ke chingon levanto vuelo y que super putaso a la mierda se fue ups .viva mexico cabrones
This is really dangerous for air traffic. Can get crashed with aeroplanes. Such a stupid act .
And this is my return back in March 2019 to enjoy this wonderful clip, One More Time.
Surprisingly my Subscription was tuned off and not sure if YT does it over time or what. Any how, a good chance to vote you up and Subscribe one more time.
Dearly thank you for your great effort and generosity in sharing this.
PEOPLE LIKE YOU WILL MAKE IT SO NO ONE CAN FLY. TO BAD THE DRONE DID NOT KILL YOU! ON THE CRASH.
These things are a nuisance for most if not all areas. Pilots can’t see the damn things and they risk our lives as well as a tens of thousands of dollars in our property. Know where you’re flying very well.
Con sa brone hai ji
5:19
Was dangerous but quite interesting and exciting
You flew too close to the Sun and got burnt. Push it to the limit, you lost your wings
”Also, I do not live in the US, so the FAA will probably not be too interested in this flight.” Wrong. If you live in the UK, The CAA ( Civil Aviation Authority ) would be very interested in this flight. If you don’t, then which ever country you are operating this drone WILL BE VERY interested in this flight. Unless you have permission, you are committing a crime where you can expect prosecution for flying an aircraft without any flight plan and permission. It is irresponsible, you could have caused injury and death to persons in the air and or ground. Did it not occur to you that you could have interrupted a flight path of a commercial aircraft or a private flight? Why do you think that aircraft pilots speak to air traffic control? There have been incidents of drones causing a near miss, had you hit an aircraft, at the very least you would have been guilty of mass manslaughter or murder. Is it worth it? You have a responsibility to others when flying these drones… they are not toys. Our Skies are highways in the sky, don’t take my word for it. What you did there, was breaking the law.
Add 4 jetcat engines
The camera was spinning after the falling because it was rolled on the ground.
Luckily you didnt kill anyone and hopefully you learnt your lesson.
Extract of the ending notes from uploader in the description;
“Also, I do not live in the US, so the FAA will probably not be too interested in this flight.
My advice to any and all multirotor flyers out there: Never ever take any unnecessary risks. It is never worth it. I got away with it this time, but I could as well have ended up hurting or even killing someone on the ground.”
Respect! Peace.
This is not safe and stupid you could have caused the death of a lot of people it may be a far stretch but I dont think so – scenario: one day you fly this and it’s your bad luck day the drone makes aerial contact with a passenger plane and end up entangling or getting sucked into or crashing into the planes engines or rotors and guess what then the plane crashes and an FAA investigation leads to you…..because you were stupid.
Well that was dumb
Sorry i don’t have an FAA in my drone. My only concern is flying these damn things wherever i want
maybe it got jammed by waves cause it was located by a radar or something ?! i think its not legal flying up that high with a civil drone. can end real bad if a plane crash in it. im not judging , just saying ^^
Bahi is ki Paris ketni he
Wow grateful
All that spiel to read before comment …. I read it …. and still think the same … very irresponsible (and I’ve been kind with words there)
You should have throttled way back to get below the clouds and then start powering your way home. Instead of using so much battery power at that altitude to fight the wind currents
cool video that was some fall
Good thing you followed the 400 foot ceiling FAA law. It is people doing dumb stuff that damages a fun activity for the rest of the people in the hobby. I have downloaded this and your page and filed it with the FAA.
you are an idiot. you could have killed someone. no matter the fact that there were no airplanes, if something would have gone wrong as it did, you could have killed someone by the mere possibility that it could have fallen on him!
As an honest-to-God pilot of full sized aircraft as well as a flyer of RC stuff, I am appalled that you did this and then thought it was okay to put a video on YouTube where it could be seen by other nut-jobs who might try the same thing. You are violating so many rules and common sense that it defies description. Hopefully someone in authority sees this and hauls your sorry butt off before you injury or kill someone.
Well your lucky the camera survive
Price of dirty rotten retarded shit. You should be in prison for this. If I knew who you was I would take you down a notch.
Irresponsible flying if you ask me.
probably should have cut the engine and turn it back on a few seconds later. might have worked.
did you fix it?
Fucking stupid amateur…….
Lenci
If this would have hit someone in the head you would have been charged for murder 🙂 well involuntary man slaughter.
I guess an auto rotate was out of the question? Cool video
We can’t fly drones above 400 feet above an object here in the U.S. because manned aerial vehicles have a minimum altitude of 500 feet. But I’m sure altitude limits are soon to come to every nation on Earth.
And it’s guys like this who have ruined it for the rest of us and now we have to jump through hoops to fly a drone.
What is the fine if this went through the windshield of a Cessna 150? Manslaughter?