You have lost your drone - now what?

You have lost your drone - now what?

Learn what the most common causes of drone loss are and what you can do about it.

Novice pilots often can't wait to try out their new drone and see what its capabilities are. Unfortunately, one of the ill-advised steps they take is to fly without a prior plan, and this often results in losing the device due to not having enough charge to get it back. At times like these, it's completely understandable to be worried, as you probably don't know what to do when you lose contact with your drone.

We'll take a look at what the main causes of losing a drone are and what you can do if it happens to you:

Causes of drone loss

Lost connection

As the controller is our main connection to the drone, if it is disconnected, we may lose the transmission from the camera and the ability to control the machine. In turn, this could cause the drone to crash land.

On landing, the drone may have hit various obstacles. Therefore, it is best to head to the suspected location and inspect nearby trees, buildings, and bushes, if any.

Fortunately, some models have safety features that protect them in such cases. If the connection is lost, the device stays in the air and starts returning closer to the controller.

Damage or interference

Another reason you might lose your drone is a connection failure or interference. The device's last location should be established in such situations.

Bad weather

Even if you follow all the instructions and only take a flight in good weather conditions, you can always be surprised. Keep in mind that the wind at the altitude at which the drone is flying may be quite different from that at low altitude. In a stronger breeze, you may lose contact with the machine and cause it to be lost.

Software/hardware malfunction

One of the less common causes for drone loss is a software/hardware malfunction. To try and prevent this problem, always check that the software is updated and all systems and sensors are working as they should before takeoff.

Battery depletion

Perhaps because battery depletion over time is the most logical and elementary thing, many drone owners fail to monitor power availability during flight. It should be noted here that it is of utmost importance to keep an eye on whether the batteries are charged, as the drone may not be able to return to its starting position if the charge is low.

What to do if you lose your drone?

If you happen to lose your drone for any reason, it is advisable to try to find its last location. If there are various obstacles such as buildings and trees in the vicinity where it was last located, look around them as well. In the DJI Fly app, you can find information about the device's last location. The most important thing is to keep your composure and analyze the situation.

How can you trace a lost DJI drone?

To trace your DJI drone, follow these steps:

• Log into the app.
• Go to "Me" in the bottom right corner and select "Flight Logs".
• Click on "Flight List" and you will be able to see all the flights you have made.
• On the screen you will see a map that will help you locate where the drone was last flown.

Flight logs can be very useful because they can point you in the direction where the drone flew, but they cannot show the exact location where it eventually landed.

What can you do if you lose a drone?

Find out if the drone is still in the air

If you lose connection with your drone, the first thing to do is to try and find out if it is still in the air. Look around, and if you hear the propellers spinning in the distance, head that way. When you get closer to the device, there is a good chance the connection will be restored.

If the problem is with the software or hardware, gather as much evidence as possible to then present to the manufacturer or retailer you purchased your drone from.

Make sure the remote control is connected

The next step is to check that the controller is plugged in and connected to the flying device. Do not disconnect the remote under any circumstances, as this will cause the drone to crash.

DJI drones are equipped with a GPS that transmits information to the app, making it easier for you to find the last flight location. However, if your drone doesn't have such technology, you can equip it with a tracking device.

Check flight records

Fortunately, drones have flight logs that can help you in your search if you get lost. They will direct you to where the drone's last physical location was.

It's important to conduct your search methodically, not haphazardly. A good option is to keep an eye on a map of the area and tick off the locations checked one by one. Be sure to look around bushes, trees and rooftops if you spot any near the drone's last location.

Take a look at DJI's drone accident, damage and sudden takeoff insurance offerings on COPTER.BG. Contact our team for more information.