Hi guys! For my first post, I'm sharing you my harrowing first FPV/OSD flight experience. I also posted this in DJI Phantom Users Group in Facebook, although I'm not using a Phantom. My quad's specs: X650 frame, Naza M, Xcam X100B GoPro gimbal, RC305 FPV, Cyclops Storm OSD.
Here is the video:
Let me add, when I was trying got descend to the cliff for a lower shot, i started losing FPV signal intermittently. I was thinking maybe the thick tall grasses/bushes and the cliff wall were blocking the FPV antenna signal (I was using stock antennas), so I reverted back to flying line of sight to try and land the quad. Perhaps it was already a sign of low voltage/power? Guys, would love to read comments and analysis based on the clip I posted. As I have mentioned above, my theory is, the motors stopped mid-air because of low battery. How come I was still able to restart the motors as it plummets? Maybe I'm wrong that I lost power because of low battery (I'm a newbie!) and I would really appreciate your thoughts about this one. Thanks!
Here is the video:
And here's my story:
A VERY, VERY LUCKY SUNDAY MORNING
A VERY, VERY LUCKY SUNDAY MORNING
Here's my first FPV/OSD flight post as promised. Some of you requested a video, but I'm afraid it will be a pretty boring one because on my first 2 batteries, what I did was just to learn how to fly using FPV - how to get used to the orientation. Instead, I want to show you what happened when I was on my third battery.
The location is the same one where I've been practice flying. Wide open space to one side, wide open space with a cliff to the other. I used up two of my 3300mah batteries just trying to get the feel of flying FPV and learning what data the OSD is giving me. My third battery was a 2600mah. I brought my dad with me to be my spotter and he suggested that I lower the quad a bit to the cliff and follow the stream below, so I did. I was so focused on trying to take a good footage that I forgot to check the battery icon, when I finally did, it was almost empty. Afraid of losing power, I started fying it back to where we are, to land it. By the way, this is the first time that I did not rely on the on board LED (green good, red low battery).
And then it happened. The quad just dropped like a rock, and I lost control. At this point, I didn't panic (yet), I pushed the throttle way up! It flew up.. just for a bit, but I still do not have control, so it drifted away from me, then dropped again, where I already lost visual because it dropped below my line of sight, down, deeper to the cliff!! Stil, I didn't let go of the throttle, I just pushed it up, hoping for it to recover and fly again. I can still hear the motors, then for a split second it was silent, at that point, I already accepted that this is a big crash, that I will have a hell of a time recovering it and it will cost me big time. Still I didn't let go of the throttle (I'm still in the denial stage?).
And then, just when I was about to give up, just like in the movies, the quad emerged from the cliff! Flying, fighting, trying to go up, spinning counter clockwise fast!! Woohooo!!!! I didn't let go of the throttle until it stopped spinning and I recovered controls! Oh my God! I should have had another camera filming this whole thing! It was like a goddamn Hollywood movie, where crashing chopper/plane will disappear behind the mountains, just to emerge triumphantly after a few seconds! So I recovered, brought it back to where we are, and then when I was landing it…. that's when I panicked. I started thinking "what if I lose power again, I better hurry! Hurry! Faster! Land!" That's the very hard landing you will see in the video, bounced once and 2 front carbon props hit the concrete pavement, nicking them instantly . I am very happy to report that the props are the only damages the quad got from this very close call! Whew!
Of course, after I stopped shaking, I made a post-flight/crash asessment:
Things I did wrong:
- The batteries were charged more than a week ago, I didn't check them before flying.
- I relied too much on the FPV/OSD, focused too much on getting a good clip and forgot about the battery icon.
- The first 2 batteries I used were 3300mah (longer flight time), the last battery was just 2600mah. Waaay shorter flight time. Next time, they should all
be the same. In an X650 size quad, forget about 2600mah, go for 3300mah and higher.
- Panicked when I was landing it, got scared that it might lose power again and drop. I should have just remained calm and landed it like how I used to do.
Things I did right:
- Didn't turn off transmitter.
- Didn't flip RTH (If I did, it might have climed higher than needed and that would have drained the battery totally)
- When I saw it go down to the cliff and disappear from my sight, since I can still hear it, I didnt let go and just kept the throttle up. I didn't let go until I regained control.
The location is the same one where I've been practice flying. Wide open space to one side, wide open space with a cliff to the other. I used up two of my 3300mah batteries just trying to get the feel of flying FPV and learning what data the OSD is giving me. My third battery was a 2600mah. I brought my dad with me to be my spotter and he suggested that I lower the quad a bit to the cliff and follow the stream below, so I did. I was so focused on trying to take a good footage that I forgot to check the battery icon, when I finally did, it was almost empty. Afraid of losing power, I started fying it back to where we are, to land it. By the way, this is the first time that I did not rely on the on board LED (green good, red low battery).
And then it happened. The quad just dropped like a rock, and I lost control. At this point, I didn't panic (yet), I pushed the throttle way up! It flew up.. just for a bit, but I still do not have control, so it drifted away from me, then dropped again, where I already lost visual because it dropped below my line of sight, down, deeper to the cliff!! Stil, I didn't let go of the throttle, I just pushed it up, hoping for it to recover and fly again. I can still hear the motors, then for a split second it was silent, at that point, I already accepted that this is a big crash, that I will have a hell of a time recovering it and it will cost me big time. Still I didn't let go of the throttle (I'm still in the denial stage?).
And then, just when I was about to give up, just like in the movies, the quad emerged from the cliff! Flying, fighting, trying to go up, spinning counter clockwise fast!! Woohooo!!!! I didn't let go of the throttle until it stopped spinning and I recovered controls! Oh my God! I should have had another camera filming this whole thing! It was like a goddamn Hollywood movie, where crashing chopper/plane will disappear behind the mountains, just to emerge triumphantly after a few seconds! So I recovered, brought it back to where we are, and then when I was landing it…. that's when I panicked. I started thinking "what if I lose power again, I better hurry! Hurry! Faster! Land!" That's the very hard landing you will see in the video, bounced once and 2 front carbon props hit the concrete pavement, nicking them instantly . I am very happy to report that the props are the only damages the quad got from this very close call! Whew!
Of course, after I stopped shaking, I made a post-flight/crash asessment:
Things I did wrong:
- The batteries were charged more than a week ago, I didn't check them before flying.
- I relied too much on the FPV/OSD, focused too much on getting a good clip and forgot about the battery icon.
- The first 2 batteries I used were 3300mah (longer flight time), the last battery was just 2600mah. Waaay shorter flight time. Next time, they should all
be the same. In an X650 size quad, forget about 2600mah, go for 3300mah and higher.
- Panicked when I was landing it, got scared that it might lose power again and drop. I should have just remained calm and landed it like how I used to do.
Things I did right:
- Didn't turn off transmitter.
- Didn't flip RTH (If I did, it might have climed higher than needed and that would have drained the battery totally)
- When I saw it go down to the cliff and disappear from my sight, since I can still hear it, I didnt let go and just kept the throttle up. I didn't let go until I regained control.
Let me add, when I was trying got descend to the cliff for a lower shot, i started losing FPV signal intermittently. I was thinking maybe the thick tall grasses/bushes and the cliff wall were blocking the FPV antenna signal (I was using stock antennas), so I reverted back to flying line of sight to try and land the quad. Perhaps it was already a sign of low voltage/power? Guys, would love to read comments and analysis based on the clip I posted. As I have mentioned above, my theory is, the motors stopped mid-air because of low battery. How come I was still able to restart the motors as it plummets? Maybe I'm wrong that I lost power because of low battery (I'm a newbie!) and I would really appreciate your thoughts about this one. Thanks!
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