Although this is an unpleasant ending, the lessons learned are valuable.  I'm hoping this might help others to NOT learn the hard way.

Lessons Learned:

Monitor for large predatory birds.  If you are looking in the camera fpv display, be aware your field of view doesn't include an attack from above or behind.

Maintain an unthreatening distance away from large birds in tall trees.

If a bird flies close to the drone, rapidly fly away from the area.

Sorry for your issue, danasay. If you need repairing service, you can get in touch with our tech support via support@dji.com.

The video is private.  I can not see it.

But, here is one for you.  I was able to take it away from the angry bird!!

DJI-Paladin Posted at 2016-6-6 12:00
Sorry for your issue, danasay. If you need repairing service, you can get in touch with our tech sup ...

Thanks DJI Paladin, but the drone is fine.  Not as damaged as one might imagine; I'm flying it again tomorrow.

It's not private now, I saw it.  
Close call there! Maybe there was a nest in the area?  They will defend their nest area.
I try to stay away from them.  They can take down a goat!

Damn! U r also quite comfortable flying rather close to branches and so on.. I have quite a hard time trying to judge distance in the wide angle....
So, what was the damage? i assume the tree slowed you down, if it was straight to the ground, would have hurt more!

You might want to test flying it to monitor any hidden damage to your motor.

I think the eagle kicks the plane down, instead of grabbing it like what normally see in documentary?

MD_Icarus Posted at 2016-6-6 06:09
The video is private.  I can not see it.

But, here is one for you.  I was able to take it away from ...

See you have a nice nest site at 3.34 - think about not p88sing it off.

Four warnings - let it go.

Thanks to the short trees softening the fall, there was minimal damage to P3P:
Tiny nick on one propeller (swapped with spare blades that came with P3P).
Three of the shell screw holes were cracked.  I temporarily added zip ties to the rear arms to prevent separation of shells.  Tested satisfactory.  I'll improve the single zip tie configuration when I get home.

The hawk flew away after contact; don't know the extent of damage on the hawk.

I flew my P3P along the cliffs yesterday.  It still flies flawlessly.  I'll look at the recorded video Friday.

Are you using any filters ? Nice work

Ricky Wu Posted at 2016-6-16 20:58
Are you using any filters ? Nice work

Yes, I just leave a ND8 filter under the original polarizing filter.  I'm too lazy to change it for each flight and I don't want to wear out the threads.

First sorry.

2nd, the music, the everything was amazing... lol

flydodom Posted at 2016-6-17 22:06
Oh dear..! Well, in both instances you guys are both made a mistake but descending, it is any animal ...

Thanks flyodom, that makes good sense.
I would like to hear more perspectives from other pilots, regarding most effective evasive/avoidance maneuvers.

danasay@cox.net Posted at 2016-6-8 06:13
The hawk flew away after contact; don't know the extent of damage on the hawk.

Good question...
Considering the props are fully loaded supporting the load of the Phantom and spinning at such high speed, I would "imagine" that most birds that make contact with a Phantom suffer slight to severe injuries.

I don't know of any evidence but the birds would probably make first contact with the drones propellers via their extended claws (making an assumption).

If that's the case, I would assume the propellers are capable of severing their claws/talons/digits or whatever they are called.  The props can delier a very nasty injury to human fingers and hands which are generally thicker than a Hawks talons....aren't they?   (I've never been that close to a Hawk).

Now an Eagle can have claws/Talons that are as big or bigger than human fingers.


Hawk's claws are far smaller.   Generally smaller than human fingers.