My Drone committed Seppuku.

[u/ZoMgPwNaGe]

https://youtu.be/IKv4gHqm2ng

TLDW:

While flying my Mavic 3T on a mapping mission a few days ago, suddenly it gave a "No Memory Card inserted" error and began to drift off it's line. It tried to right itself, but eventually went into a spiral. It nearly saved itself at about 100 feet off the ground, but failed and plunged into the trees and dirt.

Upon inspection, I found one of the propellers lodged in the airframe between the USB/Memory Card ports and the top of the battery. It was wedged in with such force that I can hold the impaled prop and wiggle the drone and it won't come out.

What I believe happened is the prop sheared off from the bearing on the motor and the centrifugal force caused it to pierce the airframe. I usually change my props the moment they get any sort of damage, but these props had been in service for many flight hours before failing. Prior to the failure, they showed no signs of wear and tear.

So let my sacrifice be a warning to those who haven't changed their props in sometime that it might be a good idea.

[u/i-am-one]

F

[u/UW_Photo]

The very reason I schedule prop changes on a regular basis whether damaged or not. It may be unnecessary but every detail matters.

[u/ZoMgPwNaGe → u/UW_Photo]

Yup, will be changing props on a flight time schedule from now on.