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Emergency Procedures

Introduction

The emergency procedures listed in this section are the recommended practices for handling the aircraft in an emergency. This guidance should be considered and applied as necessary.

The risk of an emergency occurring can be reduced substantially through proper aircraft maintenance, by performing thorough inspections before and after all flights, careful pre-flight planning, and thorough flight environment surveying prior to flight.

Emergency situations are dynamic events, and not all conditions or procedures can be anticipated or applied during the event. These procedures are not a substitute for a thorough understanding of aircraft systems and sound pilot judgment.

If an emergency occurs, three basic actions can be applied to most situations:

  1. Maintain aircraft control
    Small emergencies can quickly escalate if the pilot is distracted by attempting to troubleshoot the problem. Always maintain visual contact with the aircraft during an emergency to reduce the likelihood of losing orientation.
  2. Analyze the situation
    Once the aircraft is stabilized, begin to assess the cause of the emergency if practical.
  3. Take appropriate action
    In many cases, the appropriate action will be to land the aircraft as soon as possible. Always consider the safety of yourself and others before attempting to save the aircraft in an emergency.

Emergency Procedures

Emergency Stop (Disarm)

These instructions will stop the blades from spinning when other methods are not applicable.

Warning sign WARNING: Emergency stop is effectively the same as disarming the vehicle while it is flying. Your vehicle will crash!

To disarm the vehicle select Armed in the Fly Toolbar when the vehicle is flying.

See Flight Deck Fly View for related information.

Aircraft Error

During any portion of the flight if the user makes an aircraft movement that is undesired.

  1. Neutralize controls
  2. Select Brake Mode (as required)
  3. Analyze the situation and make an appropriate response

Uncontrollable Environmental Change

An unanticipated change in the environment such as pilot distraction or unforecast weather may require user action.

  1. Neutralize Controls
  2. Switch to Loiter Mode and pilot to a safe landing location

    If flight environment does not change or conditions warrant:
  3. Select RTL (as required)

Lost Orientation

Condition of flight environment, distance/location of the vehicle and the perception of the user can all lead to a misinterpretation of the vehicle’s spatial orientation. Restoration of the user to the orientation to the vehicle is paramount for mission continuation and safe vehicle recovery. Primary consideration is the orientation of the vehicle before any mission is executed or continued.

In the event of Lost Orientation:

  1. Reference telemetry on GCS
    The GCS provides multiple opportunities for a pilot to regain orientation of the aircraft. Reference the background map, compass indicator, and a selectable readout for compass heading to home.

    If telemetry is unavailable:
  2. Reference FPV (if equipped)

    If FPV is unavailable:
  3. Perform Orientation Turn maneuver
    Input a 1-second yaw and then a 1-second roll in the same direction until the drone’s movements correspond with the inputs, eventually back to a tail-in orientation.
  4. RTL: Select manually

Lost Link

Loss of link is a condition that is the result of some interruption of communication between the vehicle and GCS. Loss of link can be the result of many situations. Loss of power in GCS, GCS Failure, unpredictable RF environment or terrain/obstructions (inside a vehicle) may cause a loss of link. Proper preflight planning by ensuring GCS charge and understanding the flight environment will mitigate the majority of lost link issues.

Loss of link will manifest in several forms. GCS will furnish an audible “Communications Lost” message. User will experience a loss of control from right and left joysticks. Vehicle will begin an RTL unless communication is regained, and the user selects a different mode.

In the event of Lost Link:

  1. Launch/Landing site: Ensure area is clear for RTL landing
  2. Communication: Attempt to regain by resetting GCS and/or attaching charging source to device.
  3. Monitor RTL
  4. Launch/Landing Site: Monitor for safe vehicle recovery

In-Flight Battery Emergencies (RTL)

Battery emergencies can be classified as low battery or critical battery conditions. In either case the failsafe will be triggered by pre-programed values. The intent is to alert the user and for the vehicle to complete a flight action that will produce a favorable outcome in recovering/reusing the vehicle.

A low battery situation is triggered by battery voltage dropping below 30% battery remaining continuously for 60 seconds. The GCS will produce an audible “Low Voltage” warning followed by a “Return to Launch” audible warning.

A critical battery situation is triggered when the battery is at or below 10%. The GCS will produce an audible “Critical battery” warning. The warning will be followed by a “Landing” audible cue and the vehicle will begin an immediate landing sequence.

In both cases, the vehicle will continue the programmed landing sequence unless action is taken by the user.

In the event of Low Battery (RTL Mode):

  1. Mode select: Override RTL Mode if Manual Mode is desired or required.
  2. Landing site: Identify landing site and ensure the area is clear.
  3. Landing sequence:
    a. If in RTL Mode: Monitor landing site and landing sequence while monitoring voltage.
    b. If in Manual Mode: Maneuver vehicle to desired landing site while monitoring battery voltage.

Warning sign WARNING: When Landing Mode has been engaged due to critical voltage, vehicle can land in its immediate vicinity without operator action. In the event the operator overrides and continues extended flight, the vehicle may lose functional lift and will result in catastrophic loss of vehicle and potential damage loss of any persons/property in its flight path.

Warning sign CAUTION: Continued extended flight after RTL or Landing Mode has been engaged due to low voltage is not recommended.

In the event of Critical Battery (Landing Mode):

  1. Mode select: Override Landing Mode if Manual Mode is desired or required.
  2. Landing site: Identify landing site and note location.
  3. Landing sequence:
    a. If in RTL Mode: monitor landing site and landing sequence while monitoring voltage.
    b. If in Manual Mode: Maneuver vehicle to desired landing site while monitoring battery voltage.

Loss of GPS (Altitude Hold)

Loss of GPS position will trigger a switch to Altitude Hold Mode. Additionally, the user may manually select Altitude Mode for environments that lack adequate GPS signal such as under bridges, heavy vegetation, etc. The loss of GPS will create an audible “EKF Failure” tone. In the event of loss of GPS, the user will retain controllability of the vehicle. However, RTL Mode and the ability of the vehicle to maintain station will be compromised.

In the event of Lost GPS:

  1. Altitude: Climb to avoid all obstacles
  2. Manually pilot vehicle referencing telemetry as needed
  3. Manual landing as required

Warning sign NOTE: Loss of GPS will require the user to account for external forces like wind.

Failed Landing Gear

A landing gear failure can manifest in multiple ways. In a failure, the landing gear may present limited deployment/retraction of single or multiple arms. Consideration should also be given to the presence of a payload and when attached, the type of payload.

In the event of any landing gear malfunction:

  1. Determine the presence and type of payload.
  2. If no payload is present: Belly land aircraft manually with no yaw input.

Warning sign NOTE: Type of payload will predicate action taken for landing. Consideration should be given for the survivability of payload over vehicle.

Partially failed landing gear

  1. Landing gear: Cycle (If landing gear extends to full down, land as required)
  2. Landing gear remains partial failed: Return to landing site
  3. Prepare site to land vehicle on substitute landing device (bush, piled up clothing, etc) to facilitate a level landing which protects payload from impact
  4. At minimum hover (2-3 cm) disarm flight by selecting the onscreen “armed” button and sliding to confirm disarm.

Fully failed landing gear

  1. Landing gear: Cycle (If landing gear extends to full down, land as required)
  2. Landing gear remains fully failed: Return to landing site
  3. Prepare a site to land the vehicle on a substitute landing device (trash can, bucket, etc) to facilitate a level landing that supports landing points and protects the payload from impact
  4. At minimum hover (2-3 cm) disarm flight by selecting the onscreen “armed” button and sliding to confirm disarm.

Yaw Malfunctions (SwitchBlade-Elite Only)

Yaw Malfunctions will manifest in either a right or left uncontrollable yaw. While left joystick yaw control will be ineffective, all other controls will be fully functional. The GCS may produce an audible “EKF Failure.” In a worst-case scenario, the vehicle will begin to spin.

Loss of yaw control (Compromised tail )

  1. Manually engage RTL
  2. If RTL is unavailable or not desired, utilize a pulsing forward movement in the direction of the landing zone
  3. If no payload is present, land with gear up on a soft surface
  4. If a payload is present, landing gear down
  5. Position over the intended landing site
  6. At minimum hover (2-3 cm): Disarm flight