This is apparently common - my P4+ plummeted

JTotten · May 10, 2020

gfieldsr said:
Sorry for your loss. Many things can go wrong while flying your drone. That is why I keep all my equipment insured. Best wishes.

Thankfully it's covered by the business insurance policy I have......

ocallj · May 10, 2020

Sorry to hear about your crash. Was the battery still in the drone when you found it or was it a distance away from it. If it had dislodged then you would expect it to be thrown away from the crash site with the impact.

JTotten · May 10, 2020

ocallj said:
Sorry to hear about your crash. Was the battery still in the drone when you found it or was it a distance away from it. If it had dislodged then you would expect it to be thrown away from the crash site with the impact.

Everything hit the edge of the roof of the house when it landed, the battery and a couple props were still on the roof while the rest had slid off onto the patio two stories below it.

LarBear360 · May 10, 2020

On a side note, the log viewer on PhantomHelp is much improved since my last visit.

Capt KO · May 10, 2020

Yes, it happens to the most seasoned pilots. Becomes habit to flip the P4, after insertion, to check the bottom latch. Takes twice the pressure as the top.
Take care, fly safe.

Adamborz · May 10, 2020

I have multiple batteries and some fit looser than others... I worry that one day this will happen to me too. I have couple million dollar liability insurance just in case... I always pay particular attention to making sure the battery snaps into position properly.

Julez · May 13, 2020

I've started securing the battery with duct tape after making sure it's securely clicked in place. I stretch the tape hard as I stick it down to give pre-tension. It seems to hold it very snuggly in place no matter how hard I try to dislodge it. Thoughts anyone?

PhantomWetSuits · May 16, 2020

Julez said:
I've started securing the battery with duct tape after making sure it's securely clicked in place. I stretch the tape hard as I stick it down to give pre-tension. It seems to hold it very snuggly in place no matter how hard I try to dislodge it. Thoughts anyone?

Knowing the problem exists is half the battle , the Duct tape seems like a frustrating way to go, you should consider the wet suit as it creates a perfect seal and offer a ton of extra benefits to your phantom.

We offer the Forum members a discount
email me at [email protected]

Dirby · May 16, 2020

JTotten said:
Hey guys - newbie here. Haven't done a forum in ages, but today on a real estate shoot after about 5 minutes of flight time, my P4 Pro+ lost power and just plummeted from about 200 feet up and crash landed on the roof of the $1.7 million dollar lake home I was shooting. After googling, I was able to pull the flight log, but have no way to transpose it. Also seems to be a common issue with these? Thanks in advance. View attachment 118580

yep this has happened before.
the battery becomes loose and disconects and than it crashes to the ground.happened quite often.

LindeSmac · May 16, 2020

JTotten said:
Hope I attached this correctly......thanks guys. I upgraded to this from a P3 and I've never had a single issue with this one until today. I use this almost weekly for work and I'm sick over this!

No insurance?

LindeSmac · May 16, 2020

Dirby said:
yep this has happened before.
the battery becomes loose and disconects and than it crashes to the ground.happened quite often.

Very difficult for the battery to POP OUT if properly inserted!

crash1sttime · May 16, 2020

I have a friend who repairs DJI under warranty in the UK and can say that the P4 does often fall from the sky for no reason, very sad indeed. What do DJI say, nothing they usually just ok the repair without question

Harkness · May 16, 2020

I feel your pain, and heartbreak.

Deleted member 99081 · May 16, 2020

I'm confused (nothing new). Was the battery actually out of the compartment or dislodged when it crash-landed? In other words, why is battery ejection being discussed if the OP does not mention a missing battery (which it doesn't)?

xmtrdr · May 16, 2020

I am so sorry to hear about your Phantom 4. I have read similar stories of the battery falling out. The batteries are know not to lock in 100% of the time. Part of my pre-flight check is to make sure that the battery is secure and will not come out. Not touching the release buttons I try to pull the battery out. It shouldn't! if it does then you may loose it. I also check my props to make sure they are secure too. It doesn't take much time but well worth it when you can bring your bird back home safely!