Fly away

[Van]

I lost my drone today
My DJI 4 app said GPS not connected or something like that. I pressed home but, It didn't come home. I could see on the map where it was when it lost signal, but, the map doesn't show it exactly. We went looking for it, but didn't find it.

 

[diversions]

I lost my drone today
My DJI 4 app said GPS not connected or something like that. I pressed home but, It didn't come home. I could see on the map where it was when it lost signal, but, the map doesn't show it exactly. We went looking for it, but didn't find it.

Dang. That sucks.

When it said GPS not connected, were you still receiving video / telemetry from the drone? Or did it disconnect immediately after the error message?

 

[Spark 317]

I lost my drone today
My DJI 4 app said GPS not connected or something like that. I pressed home but, It didn't come home. I could see on the map where it was when it lost signal, but, the map doesn't show it exactly. We went looking for it, but didn't find it.

If it lost GPS, it went to Atti-Mode which means it won't stay in a spot, but drift with the wind if there is no stick input. The barometer on the SPARK should keep it at the same height, but will drift in the wind until the battery dies and it lands somewhere.

The RTH won't work if it lost GPS because it won't know where it's at in relationship to your location.

To find out more information about the last flight, follow the instructions from this website and download the flight log. It has more information encrypted in the file that could be useful.

DJI Flight Log Viewer | Phantom Help

Upload and view flight logs from your DJI drones

www.phantomhelp.com

You can copy / paste a link back here if you wish for others to look at.

You might contact msinger via email and he may help. He created the viewer and is a wiz at reading data.

msinger

sparkpilots.com

Good luck.

 

[Van]

Dang. That sucks.

When it said GPS not connected, were you still receiving video / telemetry from the drone? Or did it disconnect immediately after the error message?

It actually said "Landing" before it died. After I came home, I figured out how to look at the flight record on the phone in DJI go4. I got GPS coordinates and could see the flight path it took. It is storming now, but I will go there later today. I put the coordinates into Google Maps and it shows it is in the backyard of a house in the next subdivision over from where I live. I was flying it just behind my property when it took off. So, maybe there is a little hope that I will get it back. The arrow in the picture is where I lost control.

 

[Spark 317]

I was flying it just behind my property when it took off. So, maybe there is a little hope that I will get it back.

Looks like it missed the creek / river, but may end up in a tree on the property.

Good luck with the SAR.

 

[diversions]

It actually said "Landing" before it died. After I came home, I figured out how to look at the flight record on the phone in DJI go4. I got GPS coordinates and could see the flight path it took. It is storming now, but I will go there later today. I put the coordinates into Google Maps and it shows it is in the backyard of a house in the next subdivision over from where I live. I was flying it just behind my property when it took off. So, maybe there is a little hope that I will get it back. The arrow in the picture is where I lost control.
View attachment 14414

Ah. Did you notice the battery level? Did it suddenly drop to like 20-ish%? Looks like the thing tried to land for some reason (sudden drop of voltage due to faulty / dying battery cell is a possibility that I've personally experienced). Then it disconnected. If you're lucky, and you're not in an elevated position, you might have disconnected because of interference / LOS as it approached the deck. If you're not lucky, it went from low batt to zero and the thing just died in mid air. BUT at least it looks like it's not in the water! You might just find it sitting pretty in someone's backyard totally unharmed. GOOD LUCK. Keep us posted. So exciting!!

*D

 

[Van]

Ah. Did you notice the battery level? Did it suddenly drop to like 20-ish%? Looks like the thing tried to land for some reason (sudden drop of voltage due to faulty / dying battery cell is a possibility that I've personally experienced). Then it disconnected. If you're lucky, and you're not in an elevated position, you might have disconnected because of interference / LOS as it approached the deck. If you're not lucky, it went from low batt to zero and the thing just died in mid air. BUT at least it looks like it's not in the water! You might just find it sitting pretty in someone's backyard totally unharmed. GOOD LUCK. Keep us posted. So exciting!!

*D

I went to the man's house, but he was not home. He said I could come over on Monday to discuss it. He talked to me through his Ring doorbell camera.

 

[Van]

If it lost GPS, it went to Atti-Mode which means it won't stay in a spot, but drift with the wind if there is no stick input. The barometer on the SPARK should keep it at the same height, but will drift in the wind until the battery dies and it lands somewhere.

The RTH won't work if it lost GPS because it won't know where it's at in relationship to your location.

To find out more information about the last flight, follow the instructions from this website and download the flight log. It has more information encrypted in the file that could be useful.

DJI Flight Log Viewer | Phantom Help

Upload and view flight logs from your DJI drones

www.phantomhelp.com

You can copy / paste a link back here if you wish for others to look at.

You might contact msinger via email and he may help. He created the viewer and is a wiz at reading data.

msinger

sparkpilots.com

Good luck.

I spoke to the person who owns the house that my drone went to. He told me that he had the drone and it was damaged, but he didn't want to return it. He claimed that is was his because it was in his yard. He said he was concerned about why it was flying around in his yard. Then he said he knows where I lived and would return it later. All the time he was holding a very small baby. I left. I don't know where his head is at but it seems suspicious.

 

[Spark 317]

He told me that he had the drone and it was damaged, but he didn't want to return it. He claimed that is was his because it was in his yard.

File a police report to get it back. He can't keep what doesn't belong to him as this is theft.

He said he was concerned about why it was flying around in his yard.

I assume the SPARK was flying well above the yard and with the circumstances of a fly away, it just ended up in his yard.

 

[Van]

File a police report to get it back. He can't keep what doesn't belong to him as this is theft.




I assume the SPARK was flying well above the yard and with the circumstances of a fly away, it just ended up in his yard.

The drone was about 200 feet above the ground when the battery voltage was so low that the drone decided to land.
Today I went to the city police station and asked for advice on what I should do. An officer printed a map and told me I was flying illegally because I was within 5 air miles from an airport. I had a map printout of where it landed. I obtained the owners name and address from county tax records. The police went and got my drone from the man. He said his wife was breastfeeding their infant on the back deck of their house when it landed. I explained to the policeman that I had the flight record and I could show the camera wasn't even on when it was there because of low voltage. The policeman still said it seemed suspicious. Before they went to his house I was asked if I wanted to press charges against the man for refusing to return my drone. I said no, I just wanted it back.
Anyway, I have it back. The only damage I see is that one of the led lenses is gone , and the part that holds it on is broken. I actually have those parts in my spare parts collection.
Here is a link to where you can see the flight record:

Flight record

DJI Flight Log Viewer - PhantomHelp.com

 

[Van]

I tried to fly the recovered drone today and discovered that it can't find the controller. I tried another controller and it couldn't use that one either. Both controllers work with a second Spark that I own. The recovered drone will work using my phone as a controller. If this condtion showed its ugly head that would explain the flyaway. I don't like using the phone as a controller, so that drone might become a parts donor.

 

[Van]

I learned about controller binding to the drone today. I did it to the flyaway drone. Now it can be controlled again. I
don't know what made it unbound.

 

[Daniel Mclean]

I learned about controller binding to the drone today. I did it to the flyaway drone. Now it can be controlled again. I
don't know what made it unbound.

Great to know you have found your drone! Good luck, and happy flying!