- Joined
- Jul 20, 2017
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- Age
- 36
Had a flyaway today during our third flight of the day (5th flight overall on the aircraft). Result is a total loss (aircraft in water). Details below:
We conducted our checklist as usual and ensured props were on correctly, batteries charged night prior, battery inserted correctly, camera guard off, OBS avoidance off, PIC deemed the aircraft structurally sound and had 19 satellites prior to takeoff. No warning messages or errors on ST16.
Person manipulating the controls pushed left stick forward to takeoff and gain altitude, then after 1 second the aircraft immediately began to fly forward and left (left roll + pitch forward) simultaneously at full speed with no input on the sticks.
Person manipulating the controls handed the ST16 over to the Pilot in command (me). By this time, the aircraft was very far away. Received "Obstacle Avoidance Failure" on ST16 screen along with heavy vibrations on ST16. I tried using right stick to gain control of the aircraft but no avail. The right stick had absolutely no effect on the path of the aircraft. (PS: Obstacle Avoidance was OFF and never turned on at any time).
As PIC, I made the command decision to shut down the aircraft so as not to fly into Class Delta airspace. Return to home was NOT initiated due to the aircrafts speed and orientation towards an active airport. There was very little time from the point where it darted off to the point where we shut it down due to its speed and relative direction towards Class D airspace/airport. The only "safe" thing to do was to shut her down as she was over water only.
Upon holding the shut down button, the rotors must have stopped as desired as the aircraft plummeted straight into the water. Unfortunately it is a total loss without possibility of recovery.
Is there a way to get the flight logs off of the ST16? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
We conducted our checklist as usual and ensured props were on correctly, batteries charged night prior, battery inserted correctly, camera guard off, OBS avoidance off, PIC deemed the aircraft structurally sound and had 19 satellites prior to takeoff. No warning messages or errors on ST16.
Person manipulating the controls pushed left stick forward to takeoff and gain altitude, then after 1 second the aircraft immediately began to fly forward and left (left roll + pitch forward) simultaneously at full speed with no input on the sticks.
Person manipulating the controls handed the ST16 over to the Pilot in command (me). By this time, the aircraft was very far away. Received "Obstacle Avoidance Failure" on ST16 screen along with heavy vibrations on ST16. I tried using right stick to gain control of the aircraft but no avail. The right stick had absolutely no effect on the path of the aircraft. (PS: Obstacle Avoidance was OFF and never turned on at any time).
As PIC, I made the command decision to shut down the aircraft so as not to fly into Class Delta airspace. Return to home was NOT initiated due to the aircrafts speed and orientation towards an active airport. There was very little time from the point where it darted off to the point where we shut it down due to its speed and relative direction towards Class D airspace/airport. The only "safe" thing to do was to shut her down as she was over water only.
Upon holding the shut down button, the rotors must have stopped as desired as the aircraft plummeted straight into the water. Unfortunately it is a total loss without possibility of recovery.
Is there a way to get the flight logs off of the ST16? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.