Moscowdronefestivalan independent guide to civilian drones

Independent information website about civilian drones. Not the website of the Moscow Drone Festival, its organisers or partners; no tickets are sold here.

Common faults

Common faults

This section helps you understand what is happening with your drone and decide whether to fix it yourself or take it to a service centre. The descriptions are general: see the manual for the steps for your model.

Drift and unstable flight

Possible causes

Uncalibrated sensors, a damaged propeller, wind, magnetic interference near metal.

What to do

Replace the propellers, calibrate according to the manual, take off away from metal structures.

Signal loss

Possible causes

Obstacles between the controller and the drone, radio interference, excessive range.

What to do

Set the altitude and signal-loss behaviour in advance; keep the drone within visual line of sight.

GPS and compass

Possible causes

Too few satellites, interference, flying near buildings or metal.

What to do

Wait for a stable signal before take-off; if there are compass warnings, do not take off.

Battery

Possible causes

Wear, cold, improper storage.

What to do

In cold weather keep batteries warm until take-off and shorten flights; take a swollen battery out of service.

Sources

The advice on this site does not replace the manufacturer's manual: models differ considerably. Flight rules depend on the country and region and change over time, so check them with the aviation authorities before every season.