DISCONNECT · INSPECT · PROVEFPV bench · Recover
Repair the aircraft before tuning the feeling
A crash creates evidence. Read the battery, structure, electronics, link, and motors in that order. Do not hide a bent shaft, loose stack, damaged propeller, or bad solder joint under new PID values.
Crash intake
The first diagnosis happens before power returns.
Choose only what you can observe. The triage desk applies hard stops for damaged power and structure, then routes the remaining symptom through the shortest useful inspection path.
Crash intake
Three observations before the screwdriver.
Quarantine the crash pack, then diagnose with known-good power.
- 01Let the pack cool away from combustibles and inspect every cell, lead, and connector.
- 02Use a different known-good compatible pack for bench diagnosis only after the aircraft passes a short/visual inspection.
- 03Turn the motor bell by hand and feel for grit, a bent shaft, loose bell, or magnet contact.
- 04Inspect the three motor wires and ESC pads. With props off, test that motor at low output.
- 05If qualified to do so, swap a known-good motor to determine whether the fault follows the motor or remains on the ESC output.
Remove every propeller before powered diagnosis. Stop if the repair exceeds your soldering, electrical, or battery-handling competence.
Four inspection layers
A safe repair restores the complete system, not only the broken-looking part.
Battery and lead
InspectHeat, puffing, odor, dents, punctures, torn insulation, loose connector, cell imbalance
Stop forAny physical damage or unexplained heat
Frame and mechanics
InspectArms, plates, motor mounts, screws, motor bells, shafts, bearings, stack hardware, battery restraint
Stop forCrack, delamination, bent shaft, loose bell, or compromised mount
Power and electronics
InspectCapacitor, ESC pads, solder joints, wire insulation, 5 V rail, FC sensors, antennas, connectors
Stop forShort, burned component, broken pad, exposed conductor, or failed sensor
Control and video
InspectReceiver state, UART, channels, failsafe, VTX antenna, camera wiring, OSD, goggles channel
Stop forNo failsafe, damaged antenna, or unexplained intermittent link
Tune only after repair
Default first. One change. Short flight. Temperature check.
A sound aircraft should fly on a known-good same-version configuration or an official product-specific preset. Blackbox is the next step only after props, motors, bearings, frame, stack, wiring, receiver, and filters have a trustworthy baseline.
Log the baseline
Preserve the setup and Blackbox evidence before resetting or moving sliders.
Respect motor heat
D-term amplifies high-frequency noise. Hot motors are a hard stop, not a tuning milestone.
Keep safeguards on
Runaway Takeoff Prevention identifies a problem; disabling it does not repair that problem.
Return-to-flight gate
The repair is not done when it powers on.
Recreate the proof chain before the first normal pack.
- 01
Props off: verify FC orientation, receiver channels, modes, failsafe, OSD, motor map, direction, and smooth startup.
- 02
Fit known-good props in the correct orientation and verify every fastener, antenna, lead, and strap.
- 03
Hover low for 20 to 30 seconds, land, listen, and touch-check motor temperatures.
- 04
Expand the flight envelope gradually; inspect again before treating the aircraft as recovered.
Rebuild the proof
Return to the props-off setup console after every consequential repair.
Official source ledger
Verify the version before copying the setting.
Reviewed July 22, 2026. Firmware interfaces and defaults move; these links are the authority for the current release.