I took my phantom 4 on my bass boat to film some
Scenery on the Miramichi River in NB Canada. I flew
The drone from the deck of the boat , as it took off , I was sitting
With my back to it looking over my shoulder watching it, then it
Attacked my arm above the elbow ! Needless to say the torque in
Those motors was something  else ! As it beat me , the harder I tried
To push it away , it kept coming at me until I managed to shut down
The motors which seemed like an eternity !
After regaining my senses , and cleaning up the blood ,I realized that the boat was drifting forward as the
Drone took off and I had sailed into it.
Lesson learned the painful way!

Ouch!  

Yeah, they're kinda sneaky little buggers, if they sense you're not paying attention they'll do the craziest things!

Sorta makes sense why they put that "Keep your UAS within visual line of sight" in the safety guidelines huh?

I try and remind myself in similar circumstances it's only a bad experience if you didn't learn anything!

Ouch!! Wow, I feel your pain. Are you going to be ok?
That could have been, so much worse... Were you boating alone?

I think this is a lesson for anyone who spends time on a water craft, and wants to fly...
Thanks for confessing and hopefully saving others from a similar fate.

RedHotPoker

Sorry for your experience, Derek. Hopefully you'll get well soon.

I'm curious as to just how bad your injuries were?

Obviously the props could destroy an eye but my impression is they're not quite as dangerous as people think, being soft plastic?

Cuts to the skin for sure, but I'm guessing not much ligament or bone damage?

Thanks for the comments! There were two of us in the boat , no serious injury other than a cut and bruised elbow and pride...I had a first aid kit on the boat , once bandaged , I flew the drone for 18 minutes taking beautiful video, or so I
Thought...landed it back on the boat , forgot to turn on the video...so had to repeat the entire flight except for the
Accident ...lol

Thanks for the comments! There were two of us in the boat , no serious injury other than a cut and bruised elbow and pride...I had a first aid kit on the boat , once bandaged , I flew the drone for 18 minutes taking beautiful video, or so I
Thought...landed it back on the boat , forgot to turn on the video...so had to repeat the entire flight except for the
Accident ...lol

derek.burchill Posted at 2016-8-19 06:26
Thanks for the comments! There were two of us in the boat , no serious injury other than a cut and b ...

Yep pride always seems to be hurt the most in these incedents, but then I also think that thats what makes us learn best. Sorry to hear u got injured and I hope u heal up and fly soon... and learn from these hard lessons... happyy flying

Sorry to hear!

was it as bad as this? This video has stayed in my head for years, and everytime I hand-catch a Phantom.

Holy shit!!!!!!! That was so bad

Sebb Posted at 2016-8-19 12:41
Sorry to hear!

was it as bad as this? This video has stayed in my head for years, and everytime I h ...

Nasty .... those prop guards don't protect you! Wonder how many people think they do?

Glad I read this!  Taking it on the boat this weekend so I'll watch out for the drift hazard.  Thanks Derek

Sebb Posted at 2016-8-19 19:41
Sorry to hear!

was it as bad as this? This video has stayed in my head for years, and everytime I h ...

Mine was not even close..to yours....glad you posted it's a wake up call