Drone Manufacturer: 3DR
Drone Model: Solo
Country: United States of America
Type: Accident
Date: 2017-10-27
Applies: Daytime
Pilot Qualifications: Unknown Status
Pilot Flight Experience: Unknown Hours
Link to External Information About This submission: https://www.safecom.gov/safecom/18-0046
File Uploaded: None
Description
An OAS approved gps was installed in the aircraft. A level and compass calibration was not conducted after installation. The aircraft armed without issue and launched. After climbing to about twenty feet the controller issued an EFK {gps and compass error}. The aircraft behaved erratically. The pilot could not regain control and disarmed the aircraft while it was airborne to immediately ground it. The ground strike cracked the airframe.
Reported Cause
Hardware issue exacerbated by lack of calibration.