So I lost my Phantom 2 Vision+ V3 to a flyaway today. Here's my story:
A few months ago, I decided that I wanted a hobby so I picked up RC helicopters. Got a few cheap ones here and there and could never master it because they were just too cheaply made. About 2 weeks ago, I came across the Phantoms. I did alot of research and watched tons of videos and read tons of forums. Last week I went on ebay and bought a Phantom 2 Vision+ V3 without the camera, gimbal, or WiFi box because it was cheaper. My intent was to fly it around a bit, get use to it and get a camera later when I was sure I won't crash.
During the whole brutal week of waiting for it to arrive, I continued watching another ton of videos and learning everything I could. I finally got it yesterday. I was so excited. I charged it, updated everything that needed updated, enabled NAZA mode and set my switches. I was ready to go. I flew it 3 times yesterday in 3 different locations away from towers, powerlines, etc. Always made sure I calibrated the compass before each flight and also let the Phantom sit for at least 5 mins before taking off because without the camera and gimbal, I have absolutely no information to my Vision app so I wanted to make sure it connected to the satellites. I tested all of my switches and things were just working flawlessly. I was getting around 20 mins a flight.
Day 2: I go to a 4th location for my 4th flight and did everything same as before. I take off, fly around for a few mins and was comfortable enough to go just a little bit farther away across a field. Always kept it in my sight. After about 5 mins I decided that I wanted to come back closer to do some fast flying moves near me for the remainder of the battery. I don't want to leave it out too far away without a camera or flight info.
I flip the switch to return home which has always worked before and waited for it to come back to me. I was planning on regaining control at about 20 ft before landing. The Phantom rises up to the 70 ft limit that I had set and started on it's way back. I'm watching it as it moves into position above me and for some reason, it just keeps going. So I flip the switch to regain control and it's still moving away. Just came back from the field and passed me right up. I set the home lock and pull back on the lever and it's still going. By now, it's just going out of my sight so I turn off the remote and wait. I wait a few mins and watch and it's just not coming back. It's gone over the woods. I turn the remote back on and go into the woods looking all over and listening for any crashes. I try activating the motors hoping I would hear it start up somewhere. Nothing. After about 15 mins I knew it would have died by now so I continue searching.
I search for an hour and then go home. It wasn't until then that I see a video on youtube about Phantoms setting the wrong homepoint farther away from where it's suppose to be. I'm guessing that's what happened but I don't know. I had the return home activated and it just went past me and kept going. But I don't understand why I couldn't regain control. It was only 70 ft up and no more than 50 ft away when I switched back to manual. It was definitely within control range.
Sadly I did not put any information on the Phantom in case of loss and if it flew until it died, it's probably a few miles into the woods. But lucky for me, I did not start out with the Phantom 3 Pro which is what I really want so lesson learned, when I get the Pro, I will get the whole assembly and I will put my info on it along with a GPS tracker.
A few months ago, I decided that I wanted a hobby so I picked up RC helicopters. Got a few cheap ones here and there and could never master it because they were just too cheaply made. About 2 weeks ago, I came across the Phantoms. I did alot of research and watched tons of videos and read tons of forums. Last week I went on ebay and bought a Phantom 2 Vision+ V3 without the camera, gimbal, or WiFi box because it was cheaper. My intent was to fly it around a bit, get use to it and get a camera later when I was sure I won't crash.
During the whole brutal week of waiting for it to arrive, I continued watching another ton of videos and learning everything I could. I finally got it yesterday. I was so excited. I charged it, updated everything that needed updated, enabled NAZA mode and set my switches. I was ready to go. I flew it 3 times yesterday in 3 different locations away from towers, powerlines, etc. Always made sure I calibrated the compass before each flight and also let the Phantom sit for at least 5 mins before taking off because without the camera and gimbal, I have absolutely no information to my Vision app so I wanted to make sure it connected to the satellites. I tested all of my switches and things were just working flawlessly. I was getting around 20 mins a flight.
Day 2: I go to a 4th location for my 4th flight and did everything same as before. I take off, fly around for a few mins and was comfortable enough to go just a little bit farther away across a field. Always kept it in my sight. After about 5 mins I decided that I wanted to come back closer to do some fast flying moves near me for the remainder of the battery. I don't want to leave it out too far away without a camera or flight info.
I flip the switch to return home which has always worked before and waited for it to come back to me. I was planning on regaining control at about 20 ft before landing. The Phantom rises up to the 70 ft limit that I had set and started on it's way back. I'm watching it as it moves into position above me and for some reason, it just keeps going. So I flip the switch to regain control and it's still moving away. Just came back from the field and passed me right up. I set the home lock and pull back on the lever and it's still going. By now, it's just going out of my sight so I turn off the remote and wait. I wait a few mins and watch and it's just not coming back. It's gone over the woods. I turn the remote back on and go into the woods looking all over and listening for any crashes. I try activating the motors hoping I would hear it start up somewhere. Nothing. After about 15 mins I knew it would have died by now so I continue searching.
I search for an hour and then go home. It wasn't until then that I see a video on youtube about Phantoms setting the wrong homepoint farther away from where it's suppose to be. I'm guessing that's what happened but I don't know. I had the return home activated and it just went past me and kept going. But I don't understand why I couldn't regain control. It was only 70 ft up and no more than 50 ft away when I switched back to manual. It was definitely within control range.
Sadly I did not put any information on the Phantom in case of loss and if it flew until it died, it's probably a few miles into the woods. But lucky for me, I did not start out with the Phantom 3 Pro which is what I really want so lesson learned, when I get the Pro, I will get the whole assembly and I will put my info on it along with a GPS tracker.
