Drone Stories: Crashes Part 1

dronemexico

Oct 21

Buenos Dias! Happy Monday, today i’ll be starting a mini-series on stories involving me crashing drones in different parts of the world. I’d hope to say that this won’t continue to happen to me in the future, but so far, it seems to happen every year. Follow along, and try to learn something from my accident.

Flying in Airspace Near an Airport in Mexico

The year was 2022, I was flying a DJI Mini 2 I had purchased for around $200 on Offer Up in California and had just arrived in Mexico to visit some family. When I travel, I always bring a drone to try to capture videos and share my stories, this trip was no different. Half-way through the trip, and having flown the drone a handful of times without issue, I launch the DJI Mini 2 and hover over the pool as I get ready to perform some cannonballs and dives to create some drone content.

Red Flags Ignored

Altitude Zone Warning - An Altitude Zone is an area of restricted flight altitude. Each of these zones consists of two parts. Part one is a 60-meter height-restricted area, which extends 3.6 km outwards from the four corners of a Restricted Zone at an angle of 8.5°. Part two is a 150-meter height-restricted area, which extends 8.4 km outwards from the corners of part one.
Enhanced Warning Zone - An Enhanced Warning Zone is a circular area that extends 2 km outwards from the perimeter of an Authorization Zone. When a drone is approaching this area from the outside, the DJI GO app will issue a warning. Users must then confirm that they wish to continue flying.
No longer pilotting drone, just allowing to hover in the air without eyes on it.
Drone refusing to hover in fixed position and continually moving without me controlling it.
Nearby distractions, read more ahead.

Long story short, don’t let this happen to you

After ignoring every red flag in front of me, the continual screen warnings, distractions of people talking with me, etc. I decide to dive into the pool with the DJI Mini 2 hovering 15 feet overhead. As I nail a perfect 10/10 dive across the pool, my family member exclaims, “your drone is in the pool!” At that point, my drone had lowered itself without my control directly into the pool with all 4 rotors pushing water. By the time I had recovered it, it was no longer moving. Not knowing the ABCs of drone recovery, I quickly dried it off and started it back up. It attempted to run, then died. Knowing what I know now, follow this advice from DJI.

DJI’s Recommendation

If you've crashed your DJI drone into a pool or any body of water, it's crucial to act quickly to minimize damage. DJI drones are not waterproof, and water exposure can lead to serious electronic damage. Here are some steps recommended by DJI and other drone enthusiasts to handle this situation:

1. Power Off Immediately

Do not attempt to power on the drone if it is still on. If it’s off, keep it off.
Remove the battery as quickly as possible to prevent electrical shorts and further damage.

2. Dry the Drone

Rinse with clean water (optional): If the pool water was chlorinated or salty, some experts suggest rinsing the drone with fresh water to reduce corrosion. Be cautious and gentle if you choose to do this.
Remove excess water: Shake out any visible water and use a towel to dry the drone externally.
Use a vacuum or compressed air to help remove moisture from hard-to-reach places.

3. Disassemble (if comfortable)

Disassemble as much of the drone as you can (propellers, gimbal, etc.), but only if you're comfortable doing so. This can help with drying.
Do not open the internal components unless you know what you’re doing. This could void any remaining warranty.

4. Use Silica Gel or Rice

Place the drone and its components in a sealed container filled with silica gel packets or uncooked rice to absorb moisture.
Leave it for at least 24-48 hours to ensure thorough drying.

5. Contact DJI Support

After drying, do not power on the drone right away.
Contact DJI support and explain the situation. DJI has a repair service, and they might be able to guide you on how to proceed, especially if the drone is still under warranty. However, keep in mind that water damage is usually not covered by DJI’s warranty.

6. Test or Repair

After you’ve left the drone to dry completely, it might be tempting to test it. However, powering it on without ensuring it's fully dry could cause more damage.
It’s often a good idea to send it to a DJI authorized repair center for a professional inspection.

Taking these steps may help reduce the risk of permanent damage to the drone.