Drone Manufacturer: 3DR
Drone Model: Solo
Country: United States of America
Type: Accident
Date: 2017-06-12
Applies: Daytime
Pilot Qualifications: Unknown Status
Pilot Flight Experience: Unknown Hours
Link to External Information About This submission: https://www.safecom.gov/safecom/17-0359
File Uploaded: None
Description
A survey mission had been programed and loaded into the unmanned aircraft system. Almost immediately on take off GPS lock was lost and the aircraft switched from fly to fly manual mode. The aircraft was flown up and out to maintain a safe distance to evaluate the situation. The aircraft would maintain GPS lock {fly mode} for approximately a minute at a time, however that time varied sometimes lasting only seconds. It would then lose lock and switch to fly manual mode. The winds were fairly strong around 10-15 mph with gusts to around 20mph. The determination was made to land the aircraft. On landing approach, about a foot off the ground, the aircraft tipped back into the wind and flipped upside down breaking 3 props. The system, UR747, has an approved GPS upgrade.
Reported Cause
Control irregularity.