TOP 10 common pilot errors

We found out many RMA cases we have worked on in DJI was caused by pilot’s error

Analyzing the flight data or so called black-boxes we listed top 10 as below:

1.       CSC in the mid-air (Combination Stick Command)

The newbies favorite way to crash the drone by pulling the sticks to the down inner corners \ / or outside corners / \ and stop the motors

Solution: Never do this movements on a sticks while in the mid-air, unless in case of emergency

2.       Propeller shoots off

Of course the self-tightening props is a great invention of humanity, but some of the users only slightly push it till it stops to turn and think that it’s enough, which brings aircraft to shoot the props off on a high RPM

Solution: Never let the propellers loose on a motor. No matter if you are using self-tightening props or quick release props, always make sure that every propeller sits tight on a motor before taking off.

3.       RTH Crash

You shooting the beautiful building (tree, hill, tower etc.), and flying behind it for the better shot, suddenly you lose the RC signal, because the building got on the way between the aircraft and the remote controller. So automatic go-home function turns on and your aircraft crashes into that building on a way back home.

Solution: Set your return to home altitude higher than any obstacles (trees, buildings etc.) in your area.

MC settings> Advanced Settings> Failsafe mode

4.       Auto landing far from home

Once your aircraft is out power, you will get low battery warning and 10 seconds to cancel the RTH. After canceling the RTH you still can keep flying, but once your battery will hit the critical battery level, aircraft will start auto-landing. Pilot cannot cancel the landing, but the roll, pitch and yaw are still controllable.   That’s a good luck if it lands on an opened spot, but if there is a trees or water… you know…

Solution: Go back home straight after low battery warning, don’t force your drone to fly till it’s totally out of power.

5.       Flying out of sight

Flying out of sight is pretty dangerous, because all you can see is the video from the aircraft, which limits your view of the environment and can bring pilot to the altitude or direction misjudgment. Also it raises the chances to crash into the objects hard to see through the FPV, such as power lines.

Solution: Do not fly out of the sight if you are not familiar with flight environment.

6.       Watching FPV and flying backwards

Everyone likes to do some beautiful shoots like this, but flying backwards we don’t see the way aircraft is moving to, so it’s extremely easy to crash your drone into the other objects on the way.  It’s like walking backwards without watching the way.

Solution: Do not stare at the screen all the time, watch your aircraft and flight environment.

7.       Indoor flight

Very often flying indoors due to the low GPS signal aircraft can drift, so it is getting difficult for the non-experienced pilot to control it.

Solution: Exercise your ATTI mode flight skills outside, to get the proper feeling of how to fly the aircraft without GPS

8.       Failsafe and gain the altitude

As all we know, when the aircraft is out of the 20 meters radius from home point in case of low battery level, it will ascend to the failsafe RTH altitude and then go home. So some of the pilots are getting the low battery warning and go land their aircraft manually without canceling RTH. But since the aircraft is out of the 20m radius from thehome point, at that very moment before drone touches the ground it lifts up automatically to the failsafe RTH height, and flies to the home point. This makes a lot of pilots’ panic, so some of them start to do some odd stuff like CSC, and eventually crash their drones.

Also, aircraft can hit the obstacle above it, such as (tree branches, roofs etc.) while automatically raising up.

Solution: 1. Keep calm, your aircraft is not flying away

                2. Land close to the home point

                3. Cancel the low battery RTH andland manually.

9.       Bad environment

Well, the bad environment is a reason of the huge part of the crashes.

What is bad environment? Metropolis full of skyscrapers or any surrounding of the high buildings, Power stations,TV stations, Mobile towers, high voltage lines, any sources of signal or electromagnetic interference.

Solution: Fly in an opened space, far from the buildings, power line towers and all those places described above.

10.   Braking distance

Flying aircraft at the full speed is a great feeling, but sometimes you can meet obstacles on a way, that you can crash in just because it’s too late to brake.

Solution: Same as a car, aircraft has its own braking distance, so keep it in mind. It’s better to start soft braking earlier than make an emergency stop with a risk of crash.

Be aware and fly safe!

Nice logical information Tim

Written in a prefect way for all of us to understand....

Rich

nice one , Tim

RichJ53 Posted at 2015-11-19 13:11
Nice logical information Tim

Written in a prefect way for all of us to understand....

Thank you, Rich!  I was trying to be simple{:3_52:}

daniel.huang@dj Posted at 2015-11-19 14:10
nice one , Tim

Thanks, Daniel.  We hope our pilots do not repeat the mistakes of others!

Tim, by your sharing Your analysis OF ACTUAL DJI CRASH DATA, you have potentially saved many people thousands of dollars in lost equipment and bad press for both DJI and UAS globally.  It is more than simply logical advice, it is raising the operational awareness of a fledgling industry based on fact.  This analysis should be part of EVERY commercial UAS training course, and should be sticky number 1 for all new UAS pilots flying the Inspire 1 or other aircraft with similar characteristics and functionality.

WELL DONE TIM and thank you and DJI for sharing this information.

Hmmm, the graphic you pick to accompany the thread is a photo of a Phantom with the top off and a pair of tweezers ominously hovering above the main board.  Are you implying that futzing with your Phantom is a common error?

Thanks, very useful reminder.

Excellent compilation Tim  thanks

DJI-Tim Posted at 2015-11-19 01:15
Thank you, Rich!  I was trying to be simple

So your saying we're simple minded?

Awesome - using the actual flight data, you have confirmed many of my personal opinions!
Glad to see you guys posted that.

I wonder how many crashes resulted from the CSC maneuver with the pilot claiming he/she did no such thing?

Art - N4PJ
Leesburg, FL

Me likey things simple ; )

I think the above list (in bold on a separate sheet of paper) should be included with all DJI drone/UAVs purchased

Never heard of a mid air CSC, for me that is an urban legend

Swedrone Posted at 2015-11-19 06:03
Never heard of a mid air CSC, for me that is an urban legend

I have heard of at least three guys openly admitting to it on this form and on RC groups.

Then there's always 'An Eagle Ate My Phantom!'

Thanks Tim, very good info

Thanks Tim for sharing with us.
I have actually performed 2 of the pilot errors myself. Now I won't have to perform the other 8!

WELL DONE TIM  Thank you and DJI for sharing this information.
I hope you will, or have, posted on the Facebook page as well.
Keep up the good work!

Great stuff Tim. I printed a copy for my Phantom 3 Pro Manual.
I have stated in the past that any problem that I have had, which are very few and that I was the cause of the issue.

Bartone Posted at 2015-11-19 08:54
Then there's always 'An Eagle Ate My Phantom!'

Yeah, that video was amazing!!! I could not believe how the Eagle just snatched it out of the air like that!!!

Here you go.

Common Pilot error #11.

11. Flying near Eagles.

Solution: Do not fly near Eagles.

Are those in a random order or is a CSC really the most common problem?

Thanks for sharing - nice to know.

Done one of them (luckily with good outcome) - 9 left

Well put together,

Thanks Tim.

great informations ;) thx

thanks for the information, new to drones

DJI-Dave Posted at 2015-11-20 03:58
Here you go.

Common Pilot error #11.

Gorgeous video DJI-Dave. Makes you feel that you are sitting right there in the inspire 1.  

Good info...thanks!

Bartone Posted at 2015-11-20 00:54
Then there's always 'An Eagle Ate My Phantom!'

LOL. I've seen two.

Sir Shepherd Posted at 2015-11-19 17:41
Gorgeous video DJI-Dave. Makes you feel that you are sitting right there in the inspire 1.

It is.  Just so you know it is not my video and it is not an I1. It was a P3.


Dave

Richardrambone Posted at 2015-11-19 20:08
So your saying we're simple minded?

Of course not  Pls focus on the technical side.

DJI-Dave Posted at 2015-11-19 11:58
Here you go.

Common Pilot error #11.

I was hired to fly the BLM  in my full size helicopter to have them count Bald eagles (big bird)  you cannot get close to the nests or the birds... ( at least 300 feet)  they do not like the sound of spinning blades.  They will bring down a full size aircraft

Rich

Still a beautiful video shot! I like it...

Bad compass calibration should be at the top of your list:

http://www.phantompilots.com/thr ... plete-primer.32829/

Sir Shepherd Posted at 2015-11-19 19:05
Still a beautiful video shot! I like it...

Yes me too.

This is what every DJI owner wants, and needs, to hear. read and know. Fact based knowledge of ownership.   Thank You.

Thanks Tim.
Why DJI don´t change the csc stop motors procedure to one more improbable system because the joystick way is quite dangerous system and quite probable mistake. I suggest to  push c1 c2 and play shot button  at the same time.

Thanks for your great information...... Mr.Tim

USEFUL TIPS Tim. Basic for everyone !!! Thanks for this.

ianwood Posted at 2015-11-20 03:45
Bad compass calibration should be at the top of your list:

http://www.phantompilots.com/threads/com ...

Couldnt agree more!
People calibraring their compass before every single flight and introducing a bad calbration. Then, once airborne, they see the aircraft going into TBE and panic!