P4P FELL OUT OF THE SKY

Plumberjohn

I read that this has happened to other P4P owners.
Just been out with mine tonight hoping to catch a beautiful sunset.
I was just flying around waiting for the sun to go down, the battery in use was at
about 26% and I was coming in for a landing.
At about 30ft it suddenly fell out of the sky, undercarriage is broken and the gimbal smashed
and it doesn't start up any more. I have no idea why this happened but I'm obviously gutted!It really is heartbreaking, I loved flying this drone.
It should still be under warranty but I bought it from 'Dronesforless' who simply ignore
any requests for help.
Do I have any options or am I about to receive a very expensive lesson about who to buy from?

John.

ALABAMA

Why don't you post your flight log and let folks have a look. http://www.phantomhelp.com/logviewer/upload/

DJI Natalia

Hello, we are sorry to hear about that unfortunate event. I highly suggest sending the drone for data analysis. You may start up a case online: https://repair.dji.com. We'll offer you a proper solution according to the data analysis result. Thank you.

Mark The Droner

First you need to find out if the P4 is under warranty which means you need to know if you purchased it from a DJI authorized seller.

https://www.dji.com/where-to-buy/online-retails

Also, see and act upon Post #2 above for friendly membership advice.

Good luck

Plumberjohn

ALABAMA Posted at 2018-8-3 12:26
Why don't you post your flight log and let folks have a look. http://www.phantomhelp.com/logviewer/upload/

Thanks for the advice, a bit of a journey for me but here it is (finally

)
http://phantomhelp.com/logviewer/DZUPAS2A8AOE9HM1U7BT/

Plumberjohn

Mark The Droner Posted at 2018-8-3 12:59
First you need to find out if the P4 is under warranty which means you need to know if you purchased it from a DJI authorized seller.

https://www.dji.com/where-to-buy/online-retails

Thank you.
I couldn't find Dronesforless in that list. I've posted the flight log though.

Plumberjohn

DJI Natalia Posted at 2018-8-3 12:43
Hello, we are sorry to hear about that unfortunate event. I highly suggest sending the drone for data analysis. You may start up a case online: https://repair.dji.com. We'll offer you a proper solution according to the data analysis result. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I have done that today

Mark The Droner

If dronesforless is not on the list, then you likely don't have a warranty. Sorry.

Please follow the instructions in the link that was provided for you in post 2. Then post the link here. Thanks

Plumberjohn

Mark The Droner Posted at 2018-8-3 14:28
If dronesforless is not on the list, then you likely don't have a warranty. Sorry.

Please follow the instructions in the link that was provided for you in post 2. Then post the link here. Thanks

The flight log? I already posted it, is it not visible?

Mark The Droner

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-3 14:36
The flight log? I already posted it, is it not visible?

1)  Click on the link in post #2.

2)  Follow the instructions in the link.  Follow them specifically.

3)  Post the link when you're done.

4)  Thanks

Geebax

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-3 14:36
The flight log? I already posted it, is it not visible?

We don't want to see a text file, we want a link to the report generated by Phantomhelp.

Labroides

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-3 13:53
Thanks for the advice, a bit of a journey for me but here it is (finally )

6m 43.8s P-GPS 18satellites 198.5ft N/A 9.8mph 252.0ft 24% 14.531V 3.637V 3.641V 3.632V 3.621V 0.02V

Go back and post a link for the report that Phantomhelp gave you

Plumberjohn

Ah ok sorry - still on that learning curve!
One other thing I forgot to mention in my distressed state, which is probably important is that I was returning to land because I'd had a warning that the downward sensing wasn't working - " land immediately, fly with caution".
Here's the link:
http://phantomhelp.com/logviewer/DZUPAS2A8AOE9HM1U7BT/

Jenee 2

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-3 20:44
Ah ok sorry - still on that learning curve!
One other thing I forgot to mention in my distressed state, which is probably important is that I was returning to land because I'd had a warning that the downward sensing wasn't working - " land immediately, fly with caution".
Here's the link:

There is nothing in that log file to indicate why the drone just dropped. The downward sensor error should not have caused the drone to fall. It just seems like it had a total power failure. Was the battery still in the drone when it crashed? And was the battery still fully inserted?
I suspect that the battery failed.You should have received some sort of receipt from the mob you bought it from so I woud go ahead and lodge a repair request with DJI. They will be able to determine the cause.

Plumberjohn

Jenee 2 Posted at 2018-8-3 21:54
There is nothing in that log file to indicate why the drone just dropped. The downward sensor error should not have caused the drone to fall. It just seems like it had a total power failure. Was the battery still in the drone when it crashed? And was the battery still fully inserted?
I suspect that the battery failed.You should have received some sort of receipt from the mob you bought it from so I woud go ahead and lodge a repair request with DJI. They will be able to determine the cause.

Thank you,
Yes, the battery was still firmly in place. I've begun the process with DJI now and sent the receipt listing all the items I bought at the time.

Mark The Droner

ALABAMA

You started the flight with 50% battery. How long was the time since your previous flight? Had it been sitting idle for a while?

Nigel_

I'm puzzled, how did it manage to fly for 5 minutes without the battery voltage or individual cell voltages dropping?
There is a bit of variation in voltages, but overall the battery appears just as full at 6 minutes into the flight as at 1 minute in...

BrianKushner

ALABAMA Posted at 2018-8-4 03:57
You started the flight with 50% battery. How long was the time since your previous flight? Had it been sitting idle for a while?

Exactly, caught my eye....I always start with a fresh battery unless I have a very short flight and I'm like 80% or so.

Landbo

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-3 20:44
Ah ok sorry - still on that learning curve!
One other thing I forgot to mention in my distressed state, which is probably important is that I was returning to land because I'd had a warning that the downward sensing wasn't working - " land immediately, fly with caution".
Here's the link:

The voltage is over 3.6 volts on all 4 cells in your battery as your log ends. This means it is no power shortage on the battery to blame for your quad falls to the ground. Your log ends when the quad is 50.5 ft above the ground and 61 ft from where you started. There is nothing abnormal to see in the log other than it ends before expected. Crached DJIGO4 APP for you just before your quad fell to the ground ?

I'll guess there has been a error in the connection between the battery and the quad or the battery has not been clicked completely into place.

Good luck with DJI. Regards Leif.

Plumberjohn

Landbo Posted at 2018-8-5 02:15
The voltage is over 3.6 volts on all 4 cells in your battery as your log ends. This means it is no power shortage on the battery to blame for your quad falls to the ground. Your log ends when the quad is 50.5 ft above the ground and 61 ft from where you started. There is nothing abnormal to see in the log other than it ends before expected. Crached DJIGO4 APP for you just before your quad fell to the ground ?

I'll guess there has been a error in the connection between the battery and the quad or the battery has not been clicked completely into place.

Thank you,
The battery was definitely pushed properly into place and in fact was still firmly in place after it hit the ground. I do agree that it's probably a power related issue though. From floating marvel to a brick in a split second.
I received the return details from DJI today so I'll get it packed up today and send it off in the morning.

TimDerLauch

I think it was an expensive lesson for you. Sorry ! But still good luck, you will find a way to get a replacement !

Nigel_

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-5 03:27
Thank you,
The battery was definitely pushed properly into place and in fact was still firmly in place after it hit the ground. I do agree that it's probably a power related issue though. From floating marvel to a brick in a split second.
I received the return details from DJI today so I'll get it packed up today and send it off in the morning.

I guess they will replace it at no charge, or maybe fix it. It shouldn't fall out of the sky for any reason and they will have the aircraft logs to check in full detail.

I still don't understand why the voltage didn't drop during the last 5 minutes of flight, I've not noticed anyone manage that before, so maybe the voltage measurements where wrong and it ran out of power? Do you know how long it flew for from the battery being 100% full?

Plumberjohn

Nigel_ Posted at 2018-8-5 09:56
I guess they will replace it at no charge, or maybe fix it. It shouldn't fall out of the sky for any reason and they will have the aircraft logs to check in full detail.

I still don't understand why the voltage didn't drop during the last 5 minutes of flight, I've not noticed anyone manage that before, so maybe the voltage measurements where wrong and it ran out of power? Do you know how long it flew for from the battery being 100% full?

Hi, it didn't fly from the battery being full, I was deliberately trying to get the battery down to about 10%, which I did with the previous battery (about 5 minutes before this battery went in). Apparently we're supposed to do that occasionally, otherwise I would have been landed at 30%.

Nigel_

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-5 10:53
Hi, it didn't fly from the battery being full, I was deliberately trying to get the battery down to about 10%, which I did with the previous battery (about 5 minutes before this battery went in). Apparently we're supposed to do that occasionally, otherwise I would have been landed at 30%.

How long since the battery was last at 100%?

For anyone else thinking of running a battery down by flying, fill it up to 100% first so that the power meter is accurate, otherwise this is what happens!

Plumberjohn

Nigel_ Posted at 2018-8-5 11:21
How long since the battery was last at 100%?

For anyone else thinking of running a battery down by flying, fill it up to 100% first so that the power meter is accurate, otherwise this is what happens!

I thought that was the purpose of running them down - so that when you charge back up the 100% reading is accurate?

Nigel_

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-5 12:05
I thought that was the purpose of running them down - so that when you charge back up the 100% reading is accurate?

Yes, but running it down just allows it to calibrate the meter to match the total capacity of the cell, which slowly drops as the battery ages. The reason for filling to 100% is to correct the count of how much power is currently stored in the battery which tends to get fairly inaccurate after either auto discharge or a long period without being filled to 100%. It also aids balancing of the cells.

Had yours been not fully charged for a long time, thus allowing the power meter to become inaccurate?

rwynant V1

Nigel,

The cell readings......yes, I have seen at least 1 other thread where the cells across the board stayed exactly the same for over 6 minutes until the AC crashed.....I don't know which thread, but Labroides was in it.......but he's in ALL the threads

Randy

Hellsgate

rwynant V1 Posted at 2018-8-5 16:37
Nigel,

The cell readings......yes, I have seen at least 1 other thread where the cells across the board stayed exactly the same for over 6 minutes until the AC crashed.....I don't know which thread, but Labroides was in it.......but he's in ALL the threads

Lab likes to keep his credit up

Nigel_

rwynant V1 Posted at 2018-8-5 16:37
Nigel,

The cell readings......yes, I have seen at least 1 other thread where the cells across the board stayed exactly the same for over 6 minutes until the AC crashed.....I don't know which thread, but Labroides was in it.......but he's in ALL the threads

On this one, if you plot a graph of cell voltage over time then it is increasing as the battery empties, with a corresponding reduction in current. Voltage does drop when the throttle is pushed up so all appears correct except that battery voltage is supposed to drop as the battery empties and instead it is increasing! There is also a puzzling reduction in voltage difference between cells over time, which should be an increase.

It's not really credible that the voltages reported are correct, maybe there is a calibration in there that has got screwed up...

Would be interesting to see if the other thread is the same, but searching for threads with Labroides posts in them isn't going to help find it

rwynant V1

Mark The Droner Posted at 2018-8-4 03:26
https://phantompilots.com/thread ... -cause-this.116334/

https://phantompilots.com/thread ... g-out-of-sky.59388/

Hey Mark!!  DUDE!

That right there is a treasure trove of data and information!  Maybe start a thread with an appropriate label for search, and include all the Links.

Thank you for all that!!  I know it takes time......

Randy

Christine96

Is it ok to leave the batteries at full charge for a week without flying and then go fly? Or should I plug them into the charger before I go fly?

iamjustjohn

Christine96 Posted at 2018-8-7 13:39
Is it ok to leave the batteries at full charge for a week without flying and then go fly? Or should I plug them into the charger before I go fly?

I wouldn’t.

First, I don’t recommend leaving batteries fully charged for any length of time. This is better for the cells and you’ll have less chance of a battery pack swelling and thus become unusable.

Only charge before you plan to fly.

Labroides

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-5 12:05
I thought that was the purpose of running them down - so that when you charge back up the 100% reading is accurate?

That's completely unnecessary.
You can safely charge the battery from any level.
There's no need to run the batteries down at all.

Christine96

iamjustjohn Posted at 2018-8-7 15:31
I wouldn’t.

First, I don’t recommend leaving batteries fully charged for any length of time. This is better for the cells and you’ll have less chance of a battery pack swelling and thus become unusable.

Good to know thanks.

Plumberjohn

Labroides Posted at 2018-8-7 15:50
That's completely unnecessary.
You can safely charge the battery from any level.
There's no need to run the batteries down at all.

The DJI battery leaflet recommends fully discharging the batteries every 3 months.

Labroides

Plumberjohn Posted at 2018-8-8 00:25
The DJI battery leaflet recommends fully discharging the batteries every 3 months.

Yes .... just like it did years ago before they brought in smart batteries.
DJI aren't very good at updating things.
They still put out manuals suggesting the completely unnecessary idea of frequently recalibrating your compass too.
Folks ignoring that old recommendation are having no problems with their batteries.

Plumberjohn

Labroides Posted at 2018-8-8 00:43
Yes .... just like it did years ago before they brought in smart batteries.
DJI aren't very good at updating things.
They still put out manuals suggesting the completely unnecessary idea of frequently recalibrating your compass too.

So how on Earth do us mere mortals get information if not from the people who manufacture the things we're trying maintain?

alpinextrm

Yes, this happed to me as well and you can read my post. DJI will repair it and it will probably be for a lot less than a total loss. Mine is being repaired for around $200 and I had substantial damage.

alpinextrm

Honestly, I think there's a problem with these drones and to be honest I won't fly around people again, because I can't trust it won't come toppling down again without warning. I'll fix it this time, but if it happens again, I won't waste money as much as I enjoy some of the amazing photos I've been able to get with the drone.