Learning woes

[3dPico]

Thought I would share my experience this summer with two crashes requiring sending off for repairs.

Purchased my I1 in May and flew for about a month before my first crash. Trying to test a shoot at the entrance to my office, I think I lost GPS mode as on take-off it started drifting. To avoid a crowd that had gathered, I dropped on sidwalk...3 times. Gimbal seemed broken. Rolled every 20-30 seconds then back. While troubleshooting in a park without success, I did some agility flying and caught the top of a tree sending the I1 like a ricochet to the ground snapping a cross brace.

Actually it flew wobbly when I noticed the crack in the carbon fire which wasn't severed...yet. So I read about the long wait times for DJI and send to a shop in Utah. I was told there was a hardware issue with the Gimbal and they taped up the strut. It took 3 weeks to get repaired. And it worked like a champ.

Until I seriously crashed it a few days later. Same effect as my first crash. I flew into a large metal building structure with only a roof my daughter rides equestrian. It's open on the sides with metal columns about 25 feet apart.

Basically it did the same thing as the first crash, unexpected drifting. I basically panicked and drove it hard to get out and hit one of those steel columns. Bits of I1 everywhere. I cried like an Amazon white collar worker. I THINK it's switching to attitude mode when GPS drops and I get disoriented. Or the GPS and compass get whacked by the metal of the building.

I collected the debri, and set to DJI California. Expecting the worse, 8 weeks later it's on it's way back. Hopefully good as new? The parts list on my invoice is long.

If you have any questions, let me know so others can learn from my mistakes.

 

[SultanGris]

yes that is a common problem, people rely too heavily on gps mode which can and often does fail for various reasons. All new pilots should practice and become proficient at using atti mode as you are exactly correct, when gps fails it drops into this mode. its really not that hard, the only difference is that there are no brakes if you let go of the sticks and if there is wind it will push you off course. Practice using it in open areas with no obstacle and dont fly near anything until you are able to fly decent before trying to fly close to objects. steady slow stick movement is best, if you get excited and mash the stick one way or the other it will often make the problem worse.

 

[3dPico]

Thanks for being kind. I made some mistakes. Good solid advice. Need more by myself open field practice. In both modes.

 

[Aviator]

One more piece of advice.
Don't be in a hurry to take off when you start up the AC, the GPS takes a little time to rebuild its almanac before it knows its location and is truly ready to go.
If you watch the number of satellites being reported at the top of the app, you will see them steadily increase and when it stops adding satellites it will have completed its process and that is when it is safe to fly using the GPS..

 

[Alastair]

Practice on the simulator too (in ATTI mode). Crank the wind speed up let it carry you away then see if you can bring it back. Use the map insert and face the AC arrow towards the home point. Then when you have LOS it'll be easier to figure out. I've cranked it up to 30 MPH (a speed which I would never consider flying) and practice landing. Because you're on such an angle (fighting the wind) you have to level it off just before touchdown. It can be tricky! The simulator is a valuable tool.

 

[3dPico]

Thank you all for such excellent advice. I am hopeful for more safe practice. GPS acquire patience, check. Learn how to use the simulator, check. Crawl, walk, run.


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[Aviator]

Crawl, walk, run.

Perfectly put my friend, Crawl, Walk, Run.. I like it!

 

[3dPico]

Last night I had an Ah-Ha moment reading the user manual. The common thread on my two crashes may have been Visual Position System (VPS) problems. The first time I was launching from the concrete courtyard in front of my office. The second crash was over a sandy equestrian rink. In both cases the bird started drifting laterally. In the first crash the GPS signal seemed strong but I assumed the compass was impacted by the steel structure of the building. In the second crash I probably lost GPS all together because of the roof of the open air metal building. Again, I thought it was the compass being affected by the building steel.

My take away for when I get my broken bird back (8 weeks and counting from DJI): practice much more in ATTI mode and pay more attention to the launch/flight surface with respect to the VPS function.

Of course the real reason I crashed was I panicked as my I1 unexpected dropped into ATTI mode when the VPS was unable to find the ground. So now I will be more prepared. Now I pay more attention to the color of the LEDs flashing on the I1 which can cue the operator by turning from green to yellow I think when it drops into ATTI mode without user input.


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[Mpellet]

Last night I had an Ah-Ha moment reading the user manual. The common thread on my two crashes may have been Visual Position System (VPS) problems. The first time I was launching from the concrete courtyard in front of my office. The second crash was over a sandy equestrian rink. In both cases the bird started drifting laterally. In the first crash the GPS signal seemed strong but I assumed the compass was impacted by the steel structure of the building. In the second crash I probably lost GPS all together because of the roof of the open air metal building. Again, I thought it was the compass being affected by the building steel.

My take away for when I get my broken bird back (8 weeks and counting from DJI): practice much more in ATTI mode and pay more attention to the launch/flight surface with respect to the VPS function.

Of course the real reason I crashed was I panicked as my I1 unexpected dropped into ATTI mode when the VPS was unable to find the ground. So now I will be more prepared. Now I pay more attention to the color of the LEDs flashing on the I1 which can cue the operator by turning from green to yellow I think when it drops into ATTI mode without user input.


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Just a thought, you can buy a small RTF quad for under $100 that only flies in "Atti" mode that will be very forgiving when crashed, as in likely ZERO damage. With this unit you can practice your flying and orientations. The small quad will not be nearly as stable as your Inspire 1 is and when you have it masterd all of those skills will transfer to your flying of the Inspire 1.

Given the expense of the Inspire1, fragility and cost to repair, regardless of the claims that "anyone can fly it" I personaly would not think of flying an Inspire 1 without first being very comfortable flying inexpensive RC quads. The simulator for the Inspire 1 is OK but IMHO no substitute for actual RC flying skills....

 

[3dPico]

Great comment Mpellet. I actually started with a Blade Nano on recomendation from another. But that was too small to control easily. So I got a Syma X5 without the camera which was half the price and much easier to fly. Then I got my I1 and both are covered with a layer of dust. Time to dust them off while I wait.

I feel like DJI is putting me in time out! I sent it in in early July. A month later they formally checked it in starting my 7-8 week clock. They even say they won't talk to you until that clock ticks 6 weeks. So yesterday, 6 weeks and a day since they checked it in and over 2 months since I crashed it....they confirmed it will take every bit of the 8 weeks since they checked it in. The good news though is they sent me a not too expensive invoice considering the extensive damage which I gladly paid in a hot minute.

 

[Mpellet]

Great comment Mpellet. I actually started with a Blade Nano on recomendation from another. But that was too small to control easily. So I got a Syma X5 without the camera which was half the price and much easier to fly. Then I got my I1 and both are covered with a layer of dust. Time to dust them off while I wait.

I feel like DJI is putting me in time out! I sent it in in early July. A month later they formally checked it in starting my 7-8 week clock. They even say they won't talk to you until that clock ticks 6 weeks. So yesterday, 6 weeks and a day since they checked it in and over 2 months since I crashed it....they confirmed it will take every bit of the 8 weeks since they checked it in. The good news though is they sent me a not too expensive invoice considering the extensive damage which I gladly paid in a hot minute.

I have a Blade Nano QX, wonderful little machine to learn quad orientations IMO. I also love E-Flight's Nano CPX Helicopters. Great intro to collective pitch helicopter flying and almost as forgiving as crashing a simulator in terms of breaking stuff......

 

[hakaniniman]

Lol
I grounded myself for several months waiting for the lag/heat/reboot issues on previous FW.
When airborne you must be confident and depend on the AC, FW, RC and be 100% in control. ..As you are inside the AC yourself. No mistakes. Only 1 game over. It's no play station . It's real life.
I own several AC from S900 to I1. Never had a crash related to AC....you must be 100% in control.

 

[3dPico]

10 Weeks later, my I1 is one Fedex hop away. I just hope it comes back factory fresh so I don't need to send it back in. These 10 weeks have been long; but productive. I will post my findings on the completeness of the fix, I can't stress how busted up it was. Heartbreaking.


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[Mpellet]

10 Weeks later, my I1 is one Fedex hop away. I just hope it comes back factory fresh so I don't need to send it back in. These 10 weeks have been long; but productive. I will post my findings on the completeness of the fix, I can't stress how busted up it was. Heartbreaking.


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Best of luck with the machine.
Safe flying.......

 

[3dPico]

This is interesting. I got something back but I don't think it's my ol' bird. Too many details. First, now I have an extra case. The remote and body no longer have my stickers. There are more interesting details. Charging and happy.

But what I can't figure out is the following. Why is the inspection tag dated September 1st?

This is October 2nd and it looks like a fresh set of body camera and remote. Now I have two cases. Cool. Tomorrow I fly.


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[Kevin Hancox]

Look like you got sent a new machine...

 

[3dPico]

Look like you got sent a new machine...

Why did they wait to the last minute. It was actually a good time out. Like a cooling off period. I feel good and have been spending all day in preflight, getting to know my new bird a little better and appreciating her so much more for the complex kit of parts that work together magically somehow. Or it's just decent enough hardware paired with decent enough software. Just so happens to fly and it has a good webcam.