Yesterday my Phantom 2 (H3-2d, Gopro 3+, iosd mini) suddenly dropped vertically 80' to the ground (through a tree) without any possible explanation/observation. It seemed as though the motors stopped working and the Phantom just dropped to the ground. In my reading so far the only known causes of a suddenly loss that I can find are: 1) low battery; 2) bad connection with battery (P1); 3) local interference; 4) solar magnetic storm activity; 5) pilot error; and/or 6) malfunction of the quadcopter.
Facts:
All newly charged batteries in P2 and controller (each time I send P2 up).
Firmware at 1.08 (have not done 2.0 update since folks were experiencing problems recently).
Always wait for satellites and home point established. Compass calibrated.
Beautiful day, warm, no significant wind.
At park along river. Had one 11 minute flight up and down river @ 40'-60'+ above trees.
Landed P2. Put in all new batteries. Established satellites and home point.
Second flight all normal and decided to bring the P2 in since more people were coming to the park.
Upon return (same place/route that I had just flown and @ 80 - 100' horizontal distance from launching pad) the P2 suddenly just came straight down @ 80' (through a tree unfortunately). When it went through the tree there was no sound of motors buzzing through the tree only of the body of the P2 hitting parts of the tree.
I turned the controller off and noted the S1 & S2 were in upright position.
P2 was upside down with the lights still on.
Camera was still intact (turned it off).
Gimbal plug was undone.
One prop was slightly sliced -- others are fine. Antenna cover off and to the side. Gimball platform bent/one arm broken. One landing leg bent. One quadcopter "arm" bent" and I was guessing that motor was bent and was going to check while in Software Assistant.
Plugged into the Software Assistant and noted that the charge on the battery is 58%.
When battery turned on the P2 "sings" and has blinking LED lights.
All of the controller sticks work and slider gimbal switch works.
Gimbal worked as well as tilt switch (even though one gimbal support is broken).
However, the motors would NOT come on. Nothing.
There was plenty of battery charge. I was above the trees @ 40'+. The s! & 2 were in up position. There was no wind. There was no different flightpath or flying in this return than flight done previously. My working hypothesis is that for whatever reason, the motors just stopped and the P2 came straight down because of no motors. Therefore it is a malfunction of the P2.
I would appreciate any help or ideas that you can provide.
Facts:
All newly charged batteries in P2 and controller (each time I send P2 up).
Firmware at 1.08 (have not done 2.0 update since folks were experiencing problems recently).
Always wait for satellites and home point established. Compass calibrated.
Beautiful day, warm, no significant wind.
At park along river. Had one 11 minute flight up and down river @ 40'-60'+ above trees.
Landed P2. Put in all new batteries. Established satellites and home point.
Second flight all normal and decided to bring the P2 in since more people were coming to the park.
Upon return (same place/route that I had just flown and @ 80 - 100' horizontal distance from launching pad) the P2 suddenly just came straight down @ 80' (through a tree unfortunately). When it went through the tree there was no sound of motors buzzing through the tree only of the body of the P2 hitting parts of the tree.
I turned the controller off and noted the S1 & S2 were in upright position.
P2 was upside down with the lights still on.
Camera was still intact (turned it off).
Gimbal plug was undone.
One prop was slightly sliced -- others are fine. Antenna cover off and to the side. Gimball platform bent/one arm broken. One landing leg bent. One quadcopter "arm" bent" and I was guessing that motor was bent and was going to check while in Software Assistant.
Plugged into the Software Assistant and noted that the charge on the battery is 58%.
When battery turned on the P2 "sings" and has blinking LED lights.
All of the controller sticks work and slider gimbal switch works.
Gimbal worked as well as tilt switch (even though one gimbal support is broken).
However, the motors would NOT come on. Nothing.
There was plenty of battery charge. I was above the trees @ 40'+. The s! & 2 were in up position. There was no wind. There was no different flightpath or flying in this return than flight done previously. My working hypothesis is that for whatever reason, the motors just stopped and the P2 came straight down because of no motors. Therefore it is a malfunction of the P2.
I would appreciate any help or ideas that you can provide.
