Crashed my P4 today by flying too low. Will I recover it? (learn by my mistake)

[Photo Crazed]

It is my understanding that the bottom vertical position sensor must be turned off when flying over water. The sensor can't get a good reading over the moving surface.

 

[zgembit]

Sorry about your loss. That really was some incredible footage though!

Thx mate, I appreciate your message.

 

[Peio64270]

Thx for kind words, yeah it really sucks because I wasted great and expensive drone.

But I am in process of making plan how to recover it (although what chances are it is worth it?). It is difficult for several reasons: its very cold in Sweden now (about 2 celsius) so I would need a boat, I crushed it about 20m from the shore and after little research I estimate that craft lies about 8m down...
Any phantom-recover experts give me your tips I would highly appreciate that!

Sorry for your loss, that's a pity. Reading the thread, I saw that you were thinking that you flew at 4/5m over the surface. When I see the buoy, at 0:26 in the video, it is obvious that you are far lower than that. But I never flew with googles and I don't know what you can see or not with this system. Flying so low suppose a "ground effect" which can vary for a while with waves, local air temperature and so on. Barometric altitude measurements are not cm precise and GPS ones are worse. Further the ultrasonic measurements does not work well over water. All these things may explain your crash.
About Phantom salvage, I'm not a specialist but I imagine that with a small boat you can maybe borrow, you could explore the bottom of the lake with an optic fiber system or an other kind of waterproof camera like this one (it cost about 100€ in France) : https://cdn.conforama.fr/prod/product/image/1057/G_CNF_N42128129_B.jpeg
This suppose that you know approximatively the place the drone sunk (say in a 10m radius) and that the water is not too muddy. Once you see where the drone is, it would not be too difficult to fish it with a hook.
An other option is to contact a divers club if there is some in your area...
Good luck.

 

[zgembit]

To be honest, I don't think you will have much joy in salvaging the drone, it's most likely FUBAR. Have you tried your home insurance? It's worth a shot...

Most probably I would not have much joy of drone in water but it is my best shot.
Home insurance is not an alternative for me unfortunately

Sorry for your loss, that's a pity. Reading the thread, I saw that you were thinking that you flew at 4/5m over the surface. When I see the buoy, at 0:26 in the video, it is obvious that you are far lower than that. But I never flew with googles and I don't know what you can see or not with this system. Flying so low suppose a "ground effect" which can vary for a while with waves, local air temperature and so on. Barometric altitude measurements are not cm precise and GPS ones are worse. Further the ultrasonic measurements does not work well over water. All these things may explain your crash.
About Phantom salvage, I'm not a specialist but I imagine that with a small boat you can maybe borrow, you could explore the bottom of the lake with an optic fiber system or an other kind of waterproof camera like this one (it cost about 100€ in France) : https://cdn.conforama.fr/prod/product/image/1057/G_CNF_N42128129_B.jpeg
This suppose that you know approximatively the place the drone sunk (say in a 10m radius) and that the water is not too muddy. Once you see where the drone is, it would not be too difficult to fish it with a hook.
An other option is to contact a divers club if there is some in your area...
Good luck.

Thx friend, yes you are probably right that it was tough scenario for the aircraft to solve.

I thought of the boat and fishing it up, I have gopro with underwater light that I could use for searching and I know exact place of the crash and have coordinates as well. I need to find boat now.
I have posted on local diver-forum, but no luck yet...

 

[RémyHeli]

Consider also near shore objects existence;

 

[DJS]

As a new pilot I have noticed the P4 descend, over land, as I increase the horizontal speed of the aircraft. I have no plans to fly low over long distances (anytime soon) nonetheless being aware of the aircrafts decent may very well save me from heart ache.

 

[zgembit]

Consider also near shore objects existence;

Lucky I didnt hit that one! ;-)

 

[zgembit]

As a new pilot I have noticed the P4 descend, over land, as I increase the horizontal speed of the aircraft. I have no plans to fly low over long distances (anytime soon) nonetheless being aware of the aircrafts decent may very well save me from heart ache.

It surely did in my case as well and let this be your big lesson how to not do it. Just leave bigger margin to the surface and follow it on the screen, it will still be great footage.

 

[RémyHeli]

If res footage is <=2.7K you can use the zoom to keep cinematic effect while having more buffer altitude

 

[zgembit]

I hooked up with local diver here and tomorrow we are heading to the crash place for attempt to recover the drone! It will be exciting!
Will try to document some of the action.

 

[Peio64270]

I hooked up with local diver here and tomorrow we are heading to the crash place for attempt to recover the drone! It will be exciting!
Will try to document some of the action.

Very well. Let us know the result of the search...

 

[nate104]

Very sorry for your loss I have insurance but I would still be a grown man reduced to tears. Awesome footage though were you able to recover it? Hope you are back flying soon!

 

[zgembit]

Went today with guy who tried to dive after it but he could not find it. He said the visibility in water was poor and lake bottom was very muddy...so no luck...

 

[zgembit]

I think very powerful underwater light is needed with so poor visibility but at least we gave it a shot.

 

[Cuckaburra]

man that was low flying.when i read the thread title i thought 10 or 12 feet.

 

[Jesse_M]

Not gonna lie that was fun to watch...not the crash but before. Sorry mate! You got balls that's for sure. lmao

 

[zgembit]

Not gonna lie that was fun to watch...not the crash but before. Sorry mate! You got balls that's for sure. lmao

Thank you friend.
That flight was little too brave. You can get great footage without going so crazy low...
:-(

 

[rene van der meer]

I think very powerful underwater light is needed with so poor visibility but at least we gave it a shot.

Don't give up. Try a cable with a hook. You can drag it through the mud and you don't have to stay in the cold water.
Is the water fresh or salt?

 

[JPH2016]

Hi All,
I don't normally post but I came across the discussion about flying over water, I have attached a little film I did for private fishery in Cheshire. All my flying is with a P4P & a Inspire Pro,Z3 over water using the Litchi app ,Because it allows me switch off the VPS for all my lake flying. You must have clear VLOS of the flight path to clearly watch for drifting, low and slow first, then build your speed up with confidence. In the film , I was flying over the lilies and across the lake, I was about 2ft over the water, good fun, when there is no birds floating around

 

[RémyHeli]

Welcome to your 1st post then! Thanks for sharing this work.