- Joined
- Dec 1, 2015
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 6
- Age
- 58
I thought I'd share my close dabble with disaster this week as a warning to all excited, yet inexperienced pilots out there.
The plan was to visit a local waterfall and capture some shots from its base all the way to the top and beyond!
The terrain was rocky and generally uneven at the bottom. I selected a large, flatish rock and went through all pre flight checks and calibrations. Take off went well and I was soon hovering over the pool at the base of the falls before soaring high into the sky. I picked up the shots I was looking for along with some video and decided to call it a day.
I returned my Phantom to six feet above the take off point and descended slowly. What I had not anticipated was the turbulence generated by the rocky/boulder strewn terrain. The Phantom would not hold steady and I feared that it would slip or tip if I attempted to land. I scanned the area and spotted a flatter spot and went for the landing. Alas my fears came to pass and it side slipped towards the waters edge. I panicked and sent it the wrong way. The props clipped a small bush flipping it over onto the rock and it slid straight into the water! I powered off as soon as it flipped and had it out of the water within 5 to 6 seconds. More than enough time for it to get soaked and the dye to run red. I had the battery straight out and dried it the best I could on the way home. It sat in a rice for three days and I set up a hairdryer to gently waft it from many angles for long periods of time. After four days I plucked up the courage to insert another battery and power it up. Speakers beeped and lights flashed as one would hope and all the engines fired up! The test flight went well and all seems to be in order. I got lucky.
I know I flew in a location beyond my current skill set and did not take the time to correctly assess the situation. There were much safer landing spots about 100 yards out which I could have selected but I was too focused on landing NOW!
Anyhow, to all my fellow new pilots. Practice. Take your time. Don't rush. Look around you. Breathe. Unless your battery is about to die you have time to think things through at your leisure. The waterfalls of the world will wait. Build up those skills. Live to fly another day!
The plan was to visit a local waterfall and capture some shots from its base all the way to the top and beyond!
The terrain was rocky and generally uneven at the bottom. I selected a large, flatish rock and went through all pre flight checks and calibrations. Take off went well and I was soon hovering over the pool at the base of the falls before soaring high into the sky. I picked up the shots I was looking for along with some video and decided to call it a day.
I returned my Phantom to six feet above the take off point and descended slowly. What I had not anticipated was the turbulence generated by the rocky/boulder strewn terrain. The Phantom would not hold steady and I feared that it would slip or tip if I attempted to land. I scanned the area and spotted a flatter spot and went for the landing. Alas my fears came to pass and it side slipped towards the waters edge. I panicked and sent it the wrong way. The props clipped a small bush flipping it over onto the rock and it slid straight into the water! I powered off as soon as it flipped and had it out of the water within 5 to 6 seconds. More than enough time for it to get soaked and the dye to run red. I had the battery straight out and dried it the best I could on the way home. It sat in a rice for three days and I set up a hairdryer to gently waft it from many angles for long periods of time. After four days I plucked up the courage to insert another battery and power it up. Speakers beeped and lights flashed as one would hope and all the engines fired up! The test flight went well and all seems to be in order. I got lucky.
I know I flew in a location beyond my current skill set and did not take the time to correctly assess the situation. There were much safer landing spots about 100 yards out which I could have selected but I was too focused on landing NOW!
Anyhow, to all my fellow new pilots. Practice. Take your time. Don't rush. Look around you. Breathe. Unless your battery is about to die you have time to think things through at your leisure. The waterfalls of the world will wait. Build up those skills. Live to fly another day!
