I have now crashed my Phantom twice...badly. I have gone through 5 or 6 propellers. I have been impressed with how strong it is but I guess it has had one too many. When ever I take off, the thing drifts backwards at a decent speed, won't really correct and usually ends up in the dirt and with another broken prop. I have tried calibrating the compass and the advanced calibration IMU....same result.

Before I send it to DJI for repair, anyone have anything else I shoudl try? I have 4 good props on it now.

So frustrated and starting to think that this wasn't a smart purchase.

Thanks all.

Hi,
Go through your procedure for us.
1.  What mode are you in- phantom or naza m?
2. What are your switch positions on takeoff?
3. do you have rapid green flashing rear light before lift off? ( this confirms home point.)
4. Do you wait to have slower green flashing lights before take off?
5. do you calibrate your compass before take off? (compass dance.)
6. How many satellites are you getting?

This will help us help you.  You may be missing something out.

Rod

tony.naptown, are you doing a full throttle take off? The Phantom isn't as stable when first taking off, so you definitely do not want to gradually lift off -- if that's what you're doing.

PhantomHelp Posted at 2015-2-14 09:38
tony.naptown, are you doing a full throttle take off? The Phantom isn't as stable when first taking  ...

Full throttle take off is very important. I noticed on my first flight today it wants to tip a little forward when it first gets off the ground but then it quickly stabilizes and ascends vertically.  

Sure thing
1. Phantom
2. Switches up
3. Blinking green - 8 sats
4. Yes - green
5. Calibrated compass
6. Between 8 and 10


Yes, I am doing a full throttle "hop" and then let go of the sticks.....then it turns into Drifty McDrifterson. Then I can't bring it down level so it buries the props in the dirt.

tony.naptown Posted at 2015-2-14 09:55
Sure thing
1. Phantom
2. Switches up

Recalibrate the sticks on the remote controller and the Phantom.
Make sure when you calibrate the advanced IMU and the basic calibration for the compass, the Phantom isn't on a metal table or near anything metal.

Yeah, I have not done anything with the controller. OK. I'll try that.

tony.naptown Posted at 2015-2-14 09:59
Yeah, I have not done anything with the controller. OK. I'll try that.

Your controller, do you have the camera control wheel?

A wheel on the upper left? Yeah.

tony.naptown Posted at 2015-2-14 10:02
A wheel on the upper left? Yeah.

Move that also when you calibrate the controller.  That will calibrate the X1 calibration on the right to move the camera up and down.

Right on. I will do that.

I'll have to test tomorrow when it is light out and I can get to a field.

Thanks all!!! I will let you know what happens....

tony.naptown Posted at 2015-2-14 10:02
A wheel on the upper left? Yeah.

One word of caution, when you are inside the house and you turn on the battery in the Phantom, take your props odd whenever inside.  You don't want to accidently start it up inside.

I did everything and brought it out to a wide open field. I got 10 sats. Brought the thing up to about 10' and it started to drift backwards again. I tried to compensate with forward stick and it barely slowed it down at all. It hit the ground and blew to pieces. The camera ejected and the camera mount plate bent. THe battery also ejected and ow the button on the battery is broke,

Fun hobby.

Thanks for your help anyways.

tony.naptown Posted at 2015-2-15 07:27
I did everything and brought it out to a wide open field. I got 10 sats. Brought the thing up to abo ...

I think you have an out of balance aircraft, talk to the techs where you bought it and get an RMA number to return it for repair.