DJI F550 Hexacopter crash after flight above the clouds

--- PLEASE READ ALL INFO BELOW BEFORE POSTING! ---

I planned to perform a short GPS controlled high altitude flight, going straight up, and then straight down again.

When initating the descent, something did not work out as expected, and less than ten minutes later the hexacopter crashed because the failed descent attempts had drained the battery.

Technical explanation to what actually happened:

The GPS mode prioritized staying in place over descending. The winds were so strong that the engines had to work hard to keep the multirotor in place. When I told the multirotor to descend it basically said "I'm afraid I can't do that, because you told me to stay in this position, and if I slow down the motors to descend, I would also start moving sideways with the wind". The solution was to disengage the GPS mode.

Important background information:

This video depicts a very dangerous situation that could have ended up much worse than it actually did.

I was very lucky not to cause any damage on the ground to either living beings or property.

I am not proud of this particular flight, and my main reason for putting the video on YouTube is to inform others and hopefully help them avoid making the same mistake(s) I did.

My arguments for performing a high altitude flight at all were as follows:
- No airplanes in this area ever fly as low as I did in the video
- There is generally not much air traffic in this area at all
- Military, police, and emergency flights are virtually non-existant in this area
- The multirotor was supposed to go straight up and straight down again

Knowing all of this, I still realize it was a mistake flying that high, especially on this particular occasion. The wind on the ground was not very strong, but higher up, the wind was so strong that the hexacopter had to struggle to stay in position. When I started descending, the hexacopter did not seem to respond to my command, and the only way to make it respond was to disconnect the GPS mode. It then started descending, but it also started moving away with the wind.

Facts to be noted before commenting on the video:

I DO NOT PERFORM HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHTS ANYMORE, NOR DO I FLY OVER POPULATED AREAS. Hence, it is unnecessary to ask me to stop flying like I did in the video, since it definitely won't happen again anyway. The crash was a harsh wakeup call that totally made me rethink my attitude towards multirotor flying, and I realize now that high altitude flights and flights over populated areas are way too risky and dangerous.

THE MULTIROTOR DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE ON THE GROUND, TO EITHER PEOPLE, ANIMALS, OR PROPERTY. Having said this, I am fully aware that something disastrous could have happened, and there is no need to keep reminding me about that fact.

I WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE MULTIROTOR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY PERFORM A CONTROLLED LANDING IF THE BATTERY LEVEL REACHED ITS SPECIFIED MINIMUM. After reading the documentation, I felt reassured knowing that I had specified two battery level limits, where the second (lowest) limit, if reached, would initiate a forced automatic landing. Apparently this never happened, so this was either a misunderstanding on my behalf, or unclear documentation, or a combination of both.

Also, I do not live in the US, so the FAA will probably not be too interested in this flight.

My advice to any and all multirotor flyers out there: Never ever take any unnecessary risks. It is never worth it. I got away with it this time, but I could as well have ended up hurting or even killing someone on the ground.

00:00 - Ascent
01:09 - Through the clouds
02:20 - Above the clouds
03:10 - Problems start
04:07 - GPS disconnect
04:16 - Slow descent
05:18 - Return To Home activated
06:20 - Manual descent
07:47 - Below the clouds
08:05 - Batteries almost depleted
08:44 - Batteries die
09:12 - Aftermath
09:41 - Crash in slowmotion

Equipment:
- Frame: DJI F550
- Gyro: DJI Naza v2 with GPS
- Gimbal: DJI Zenmuse H3-2D
- Camera: GoPro Hero3, Black Edition
- Radio: Futaba T14SG with receiver R7008SB
- Battery: Li-Po 4S (14.8V), 6200 mAh
- Motors: Stock F550 (DJI 2212/920)
- Esc: Stock F550 (DJI ESC 30 amps OPTO)
- Propellers: Stock DJI 10"

[nsmith]

As a private pilot, this stunt is horrifying. Typical cruise altitude for a normal local flight over populated areas (in an actual passenger carrying airplane or helicopter) is 2500 to 3500 feet; lower if climbing from or descending to an airport. If by some miracle I were able to see and avoid this tiny spec while traveling at 130-160 knots, I definitely would not be able to see it while flying on instruments through those clouds. Drone Operators everywhere, please take note:  flying above 500 feet poses a danger to aircraft as well as those on the ground when that aircraft is disabled due to a midair with a drone (not to mention whoever the dead drone hits on the ground). Taking a drone hit to the windshield can be a death sentence anyone on board or critically disable the aircraft. You certainly wouldn't drop a rock from a highway overpass onto cars,  yet this would have the same affect. Even attempting to land with damaged prop, engine, tire or landing gear strut endangers lives of all on board. This isn't a rage post. Simply stating one of my worst fears as a pilot. Not only do I have to look out for other aircraft and birds, I now have to watch for drones flying illegally in controlled airspace. Please keep it safe.

[billycasper]

Come on guys, let's give a round of applause for the guy who returned it honestly

[benstark]

This is incredibly unsafe. I really want Drones to be free from Government regs but then you have people like this guy

[mikeymike]

Thanks for getting the RC hobby a bad reputation. Your ignorance, negligence and general incompetence will be forever appreciated by all RC enthusiasts.

[trazyntheinfinite]

pro tip: if you go into the mountains, you can start above the clouds already!

[austingarland]

Ah yes. The reason we have so many rules and need a license to fly our Mavic’s now. Good job.

[jacobreuter]

Bruh this is why we need a license to fly a drone now. That sound you heard in the clouds is literal icing. Flying in freezing conditions into a ball of water is a dumb idea.

[wsetproductions]

I can respect the fact that you admitted your error and posted this video as a ‘teachable moment’ in encouraging others to not do this. I also appreciate the additional information as well. Thank you for the information.

[ghost_ship_supreme]

“Do, how did you solve the icing problem?”

“Icing problem?”

[WisdomVendor]

Phone rings...
Copter owner : Hello
Unknown : Hey Dude, I found your quadcopter
Copter owner : I have a hexacopter
Unknown : Not any more...now it's a quadcopter.

[bpm_music]

Maybe you got a chance to save it if you perform an emergency propeller stop, let it free fall, and restart again.

[mtrivelin]

11 years ago!
It's good to see that the comments weren't blocked, as usually happens when people start complaining, some politely and others just "for sport".
The video reamains, now as a good example of what not to do.

[andrewflath]

My anxiety levels just learned a new high.

[NSUScooter]

This is precisely why the FAA is going batshit over drones. You are in airplane territory

[adford]

Glad no one got hurt. It's scary when we assume technology is bullet proof or that the designers thought of everything we might do with it. Even if the designers thought of something, they might not have had the time, resources or development budget to implement that "something". Thanks for posting Stefan! Videos like this help everyone learn some of that "common sense" without having to go thru it themselves.

[theonefrancis]

You must be proud to be a dangerous individual. This kind of shit caused trouble to other drone pilots as well, congrats.

[Fly]

From a pilots perspective, this looks like a crash waiting to happen, not for your drone, but for us with passengers in the back seats. Hopefully you’re doing your due diligence with clearances through ATC so your fun in the clouds doesn’t cost someone heartache.

[Bozemancurtis]

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate that you put this out there so we can all learn a lesson and not have a similar issue. For the record this was shown in a 107 certification prep class as an example of what can happen when a drone is using a bunch of thrust to fight the wind, which makes it hard for the drone to descend. That's what our instructor thought the issue probably was. That's why the drone didn't want to descend when it was holding position on the GPS.

[MrNangoo]

I have no idea about the legalities but I have to say once you started watching, it was pretty hard to stop. I found it utterly riveting, best 10 mins on youtube..

[nicoalvarezp]

The fact you call it helicopter and not drone or UAV tells me everything, no wknder we have such strong rules now