Took my Spark out for a flight after a recent snowfall. Launched from a parking lot, which had been cleared but still had small amounts of snow. It looks like the props stirred up some snow, and I guess the downward sensors were partly covered. The drone ascended and kept climbing, reaching about 50 feet before I panicked and hit LAND. When I did, it descended quite rapidly, and came down to the parking lot with a pretty firm bump. Can't see any damage, and after cleaning off any remaining snow I took it for a short flight, launching and landing in my hand instead of from the pavement. Things seemed to be fine, but I was definitely nervous.
Is that normal behaviour if the sensor is covered? I would have thought it would move more slowly, or stop moving altogether, if the sensor was blocked or not functioning. Nervous now about flying again, particularly taking off from ground or areas with snow.

happened to me at night in dessert it landed very fast the sensors cant see when dark and u had snow on it too so be careful nxt time =)

Hi, We're very sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience that you had with your Spark. However, it is not advisable to fly your drone with that kind of weather condition. Please be more extra cautious when flying the drone to avoid any issue. For more information about our flight condition requirements, please see the attached image below. Thank you.

Sorry about your mishap... My spark did the same thing at night.. rapid descent... I do believe it was the bottom VPS. question?  Is there a way to turn it off?  Tks in advance and good luck to you...

DJI Natalia Posted at 12-17 09:40
Hi, We're very sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience that you had with your Spark. However, it is not advisable to fly your drone with that kind of weather condition. Please be more extra cautious when flying the drone to avoid any issue. For more information about our flight condition requirements, please see the attached image below. Thank you.

The weather conditions were good; the snow had ended, it was clear and sunny. I believe the props kicked up some grains of loose snow during takeoff and somehow got those grains got on the sensors. The lesson I've learned from this is to avoid taking off from the ground when there is any snow or anything loose that can fly around.

What I was most surprised about is how the drone reacted when the sensors were partly covered; the uncontrollable flight and rapid descent could easily have resulted in loss or destruction.

TheGemster18 Posted at 12-17 13:39
Sorry about your mishap... My spark did the same thing at night.. rapid descent... I do believe it was the bottom VPS. question?  Is there a way to turn it off?  Tks in advance and good luck to you...

I'm not sure you'd want to disable the sensor. And the docs clearly say that the drone should not be flown at night -- it makes sense that a visual sensor won't work properly in the dark.

I was flying yesterday when an afternoon sea fog rolled in. I got a message something like "sensor error, altitude not stabilised - fly carefully". Luckily, I was climbing at the time and 10 min later when I wanted to come down, the fog had pretty much cleared so my decent was normal.  l wonder if ascent would also be faster than normal at night too.

Strangely, I could not find that error message in the flight records, even using the Phantom site log decoder.

Thank you for posting your experience. I will know to expect a faster than normal decent when flying in the dark (or snow or fog).

With 6 to 7 months snow, i always use some kind thing under the spark. Like a drone pad or carton.. And no problem whatsover with snow.

If the drone has ultrasonic sensors instead or combined with optical sensors, then it doesn’t matter the lighting conditions, the ultrasonic sensors don’t need light to work. DJI had them In the mavic pro, but then removed them in the drones that they made after, WHY!???
I think that they are a good addition, since they don’t need light to work properly, perfect for night filming, or snow, or water.

Flysafely
Alex

Alex B. Posted at 12-18 05:55
If the drone has ultrasonic sensors instead or combined with optical sensors, then it doesn’t matter the lighting conditions, the ultrasonic sensors don’t need light to work. DJI had them In the mavic pro, but then removed them in the drones that they made after, WHY!???
I think that they are a good addition, since they don’t need light to work properly, perfect for night filming, or snow, or water.

75% of my desert flights were at night or at very very low light conditions. The SPARK is quite capable of flying at night without any performance issues during flight or video capture. That to the temperatures are at soaring 50 degree or more.

Warriewoodlad Posted at 12-18 02:33
I was flying yesterday when an afternoon sea fog rolled in. I got a message something like "sensor error, altitude not stabilised - fly carefully". Luckily, I was climbing at the time and 10 min later when I wanted to come down, the fog had pretty much cleared so my decent was normal.  l wonder if ascent would also be faster than normal at night too.

Strangely, I could not find that error message in the flight records, even using the Phantom site log decoder.

Your problem could be water entering in the form of snow into the electronics of the drone. It cannot be darkness !!

dgould Posted at 12-18 01:37
The weather conditions were good; the snow had ended, it was clear and sunny. I believe the props kicked up some grains of loose snow during takeoff and somehow got those grains got on the sensors. The lesson I've learned from this is to avoid taking off from the ground when there is any snow or anything loose that can fly around.

What I was most surprised about is how the drone reacted when the sensors were partly covered; the uncontrollable flight and rapid descent could easily have resulted in loss or destruction.

I understand. Please don't hesitate to reach us back if you have further concern. We're glad to help. Thank you.

Just don't let it autoland!

Fly it down, land in your hand.

(Grab it from below, backwards, with stick down and from about your height)

S-e-ven Posted at 12-18 09:14
Just don't let it autoland!

Fly it down, land in your hand.

That’s true, I always when I fly I hand catch and hand launch my spark and I’ve never had any problems.

Flysafely
Alex

I have flown at night several times and I never had any issues.

S.J Posted at 12-18 07:41
75% of my desert flights were at night or at very very low light conditions. The SPARK is quite capable of flying at night without any performance issues during flight or video capture. That to the temperatures are at soaring 50 degree or more.

I agree

Alex B. Posted at 12-18 05:55
If the drone has ultrasonic sensors instead or combined with optical sensors, then it doesn’t matter the lighting conditions, the ultrasonic sensors don’t need light to work. DJI had them In the mavic pro, but then removed them in the drones that they made after, WHY!???
I think that they are a good addition, since they don’t need light to work properly, perfect for night filming, or snow, or water.

My Mavic 2 shows errors with sensors, including the downward sensors as well, but the good thing is that it has an auxiliary light which turns on when it's dark to land, or you can set it on for the whole flight if you wish.