Got my red props in the mail yesterday, Loving the look. But while changing to the red props, I noticed that 2 of the 4 black ones I took off were being held on by only one of the little feet in the motor. I had no reason to think these props had any faults. No crashes, no hard landings to make me think I should check them. So, I would suggest removing your props for inspection on occasion.

I like the red props, havnt flown them yet.

Thanks for the heads up, gonna check mine now after work.  I have seen another post by someone else mentioning that they found a detached prop foot as well, so probably good to check.

Where did you get the different color props?

I've also had this damaged prop issue.  Make them part of your pre flight check.  I noticed it because when I spun all the props by hand, one would occasionally stick and not move.  I flew it several times broken I think.

Read this and checked my props ......are all good.  Where did you get the red props from?

Rich

This is an interesting discovery. Maybe it can explain some of the unexpected mid-flight Spark falls - a detaching propeller.

Nice .. are they from DJI or other?  

I saw different color propellers and stuff on amazon or/and ebay.

I, too, had a prop with only one of two feet still attached and didn't even know it. I went to calibrate IMU and you remove the props to do so, a little piece of black plastic rolled out when I put it on one side. Looked at the props and one of them only had one of two feet. Had no idea. Would still be flying it if i hadn't calibrated. Good idea to give them a check.

These props came from Amazon, Prime delivery in 2 days.

Link: http://a.co/cUV3Db0

Looks great. You need to update your avatar!

Also tried out my new landing pad today.

One propeller with a broken tab. Thanks for the suggestion.

"Also tried out my new landing pad today."

How is Sparky recognising the landing area?

What you guys did when found out you had a broken feet? Is the broken feet on the propeller or the motor casing itself?

The foot was broke off the prop and stuck in the motor casing.

I would recommend you to unmount the propellers and start the motor to check whether it works well first.

I am not sure third party props are a good idea, the ones I got were very stiff  in the propeller hub joint compared to the loose DJI genuine props. Do you think this might have contributed to flight instability if they can't be perfectly aligned by centrifugal force ?

lannes Posted at 2017-8-15 20:35
I am not sure third party props are a good idea, the ones I got were very stiff  in the propeller hub joint compared to the loose DJI genuine props. Do you think this might have contributed to flight instability if they can't be perfectly aligned by centrifugal force ?

Other than the color, these look and feel no different to me than the DJI props. to each his own.

Based on this advise, I checked my props.  They remain sound and healthy.

I also bought green props, because I like color coordination.

I too had experienced this issue. I had a scraped up prop and and decided to remove them all....3 were broken and 1 actually had the little part stuck in the motor. I had to turn the bird upside down and shake it to get the part out. I had never thought to post it, but you are right..it is very important to check this!

I'm going into super supposition mode:  What if...

The individuals reporting drops had a prior crash or circumstance where the prop broke, and had a piece of plastic that was not quite wedged between the housing and motor...  and what if during a subsequent flight that piece suddenly locks the motor up?

DJI Moderators:  What's the expected drone behavior if one motor has a problem?  I know it won't be able to fly, but does it try to compensate?  Or do all motors go into shut-down?

Everyone:  This probably emphasizes the importance of inspecting the props and craft before flight.  The manual instructs us to do so, but I NEVER took the props off and re-attached them.  I should do this from now on.

I too will start checking mine every flight

Sparky Mike Posted at 2017-8-15 10:49
I, too, had a prop with only one of two feet still attached and didn't even know it. I went to calibrate IMU and you remove the props to do so, a little piece of black plastic rolled out when I put it on one side. Looked at the props and one of them only had one of two feet. Had no idea. Would still be flying it if i hadn't calibrated. Good idea to give them a check.

Just checked mine and all have the two feet still attached .. i'll be keeping an eye on this going forward.

Charles Adams Posted at 2017-8-16 08:26
I'm going into super supposition mode:  What if...

The individuals reporting drops had a prior crash or circumstance where the prop broke, and had a piece of plastic that was not quite wedged between the housing and motor...  and what if during a subsequent flight that piece suddenly locks the motor up?

I saw a you tube video where someone was testing this actual topic; broken or missing blade.  If the blades are missing, the spark didn't take off, it actually shut it's self off.  in the case of a cracked or part of the prop missing, the spark did different things based on how sever the break was.  look it up on You Tube

Sparky_17 Posted at 2017-8-16 09:10
I saw a you tube video where someone was testing this actual topic; broken or missing blade.  If the blades are missing, the spark didn't take off, it actually shut it's self off.  in the case of a cracked or part of the prop missing, the spark did different things based on how sever the break was.  look it up on You Tube

Good advice, and I have seen the various youtubes which test the durability of the drone.  My supposition is more towards the case where one of the "feet" of the prop breaks, and less about a visible piece of the blade being damaged.  This "hidden" damage might explain some of the drops.  And this emphasizes the need to inspect ALL of the prop, not just the visible portion when attached.

Mine are ok!... i'm carrying the spark in the black box, i don't think the bag that comes with the fly more combo is good for the props... Just a thought...

just checked mine and there all good! thanks for sharing

lafoto Posted at 2017-8-16 09:25
Mine are ok!... i'm carrying the spark in the black box, i don't think the bag that comes with the fly more combo is good for the props... Just a thought...

Same here, I use the original spark case to carry my spark, batteries and spare blades.  The fly more bag, I use for everything else.  That way I can decide if I'm doing a quick flight with iphone or a flight with remote/blade guards, etc

I am pretty sure that I was lucky to not have a catastrophic failure.  I am positive I flew the bird over distance with the broken prop foot.  I had one minor crash, involving my Spark flying into my car at 3 feet altitude trying to avoid my friends attacking dog. Inspect those props every flight.  

Some dogs just go nuts over the drone.  Some dogs are completely frightened, and some just ignore it.

Yeah, she hates it, but I love her and would have felt bad injuring her.  

Sparky Tim Posted at 2017-8-15 10:58
Also tried out my new landing pad today.

how did the precision landing do with the new pad?

Sparky Tim Posted at 2017-8-15 10:45
These props came from Amazon, Prime delivery in 2 days.

Link: http://a.co/cUV3Db0

ordered!

Rich

Charles Adams Posted at 2017-8-16 08:26
I'm going into super supposition mode:  What if...

The individuals reporting drops had a prior crash or circumstance where the prop broke, and had a piece of plastic that was not quite wedged between the housing and motor...  and what if during a subsequent flight that piece suddenly locks the motor up?

I think the Go 4 App would tell you motor overloaded or at least something like that. If 1 prop comes off the Spark would spin before shutting down (IMO)

Rich

Does the spark fly with only 3 motors? Can this be the cause of spark turn off in the air? A plastic thing in the motor? And then fall?

Checked my props last night after reading your post. One of them was only being held on by one foot.
I must get into a habit of checking them regularly. Also need to buy another set of spare props

Watching youtube spark durability or crash videos, if spark blades hit something and the impact are strong, the drone shut off all four blades and fall. If the drone hit something for just a split second and the impact are not strong, the drone keep flying.

I dont know whats the impact intensity of a broken blade feet midflight, but if the blade stops abruptely like when the drone hits something strong like a wall, the drone FOR SURE WILL TURN ALL THE MOTORS OFF.

Just need watch all the youtube videos of spark crashing or durability tests to see this behaviour..

On this video, exactly at 1min20s you can see what happens when spark hit something hard, you can see in slowmotion all four motors stoping at same time and falling.

And if a broken blade feet can crash a motor midflight ( like it was hit something)? spark will for sure fall of the sky like a brick.

This can explain why not all sparks are falling, why some users has 60 ok flights before falling of sky, why software update dont fix and stopped new cases appear.
.
And for sure can explain why sparks are falling for "no aparent reason", its not common verify all blades of spark before all flights, its not even common detach the blades because spark are stored with blades atached..
.
Just on this post, there are 2 spark owners that has broken propellers feet and dont even  know that before verify or buy another color propellers and change, maybe 2 possible fall of sky victims saved.
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What if the other victims that has fall of sky sparks dont even know of broken propellers? This for sure appear to be a "fall with no aparent reason" " caused by bug firmware" or something like that.

Its all just a theory, but...




Quadcopters dont fly with just 3 motors, hexacopters (typhoon H) can fly with just 4 motors.

www.aliexpress.com I ordered alsmost everything here

Checked mine... There OK. It would seem that it might be a good idea to check them ever so often. Good idea to include in a pre flight, maybe like every other outing or a crash.