Little adventure happened on a recent flight.
After a climb of 300 meters above the starting point was a short-term deterioration in the quality of communication. Has been shut down engine drone. We thought that the autopilot mode included an emergency landing. OK! Landing! Although the connection is not much worse and that’s fine. Translate into shallow dive. In a wide arc slow down the aircraft, stub rate move on the final approach. Here colleague shouted: «You have a fire on board !!!». Land the plane. I looked at the pick up point. Smoke and flame to the waist! The people running stew. Grab water bottle and behind them.
The control system is not to blame. During the climb engine controller heated to the melting point and and the burning of the foam.
The motor is turned off. While the aircraft was reduced airflow knocked down the flames. And as soon as the drone stopped — fire severely inflamed.
Comments
Never had that happen. Scary thought. Hope all were ok.
Prop vibration, prop turning weight and internal BEC load (if servo feed from ESC BEC) could stress load an ESC workload. Pusher prop configuration also receive unclean airflow causes more unstable load on the prop blades which make more audible noisy sound that stresses ESC than tractor prop. Shortening cable help to reduce current loss through the wires before reaching to motor. Short wires also reduce RF interference. I've flown lots of planes, usually i don't use its internal BEC, always match my ESC, motor and prop to fit current consumption and performance 1:1 ratio. My wires always extremely short and bulletless to remove RF factor and solid current flow.
@Sgt Ric: How would shortening the cables to the esc help when the esc is burning? wouldn't that "help" lighting the lipos as well? from the story it looks like the esc is just underrated and to much current drawn. (or to little cooling to the esc). So how does a short cable from batterie to esc help? Cheer Christoph
To Sgt Ric
А якiя ж зараз не кiтайскiя? :(
The plane is made according to the scheme of the RQ-11 Raven UAV. Without ailerons.
But other such work without problems with the same engine and the propeller. Maybe just unlucky.
Photo from before the fire and
Do you have a photo from before the fire?
Whats the motor, ESC and propeller specification? Your ESC is Opto type?
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