Vortex Ring State in Quadcopter 'Drones'
Posted: Sat May 20, 2023 4:20 pm
I have a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced quadcopter 'drone' which has served me well for 7 years. I always knew there was potential - as there is of course in helicopters - for Vortex Ring State if I descended vertically too fast and then pulled in power. Today, with pleasant calm conditions and good visibility, for the first time ever I climbed to the maximum permitted 400ft AGL to do some area video overhead the house. When I finished I intended to land the drone but couldn't see the Phantom 3 too clearly in respect of its rate of vertical descent. I changed my mind and decided to do some more video and at about 300ft I pulled in power and re-established a hover.
That's when it went pear shaped. Although the gyro stabilised camera view on my linked iPad didn't show it to any extent, I could see that the Phantom 3 was rocking and falling out of the sky. Being a wise old helicopter pilot I didn't do what the uninformed would do, ie pull power which would make the situation even worse, but I put in full forward 'cyclic' and reduced power slightly. The Phantom recovered at about 50ft. If anyone was in doubt, you can certainly get into Vortex Ring State in quadcopter drones - including those with six or eight powerplants of course.
Many years ago I went up in a RN Wasp helicopter with an ETPS test pilot. At 8000ft he deliberately put the helicopter into full VRS. We recovered at 4000ft. A vivid demonstration!
That's when it went pear shaped. Although the gyro stabilised camera view on my linked iPad didn't show it to any extent, I could see that the Phantom 3 was rocking and falling out of the sky. Being a wise old helicopter pilot I didn't do what the uninformed would do, ie pull power which would make the situation even worse, but I put in full forward 'cyclic' and reduced power slightly. The Phantom recovered at about 50ft. If anyone was in doubt, you can certainly get into Vortex Ring State in quadcopter drones - including those with six or eight powerplants of course.
Many years ago I went up in a RN Wasp helicopter with an ETPS test pilot. At 8000ft he deliberately put the helicopter into full VRS. We recovered at 4000ft. A vivid demonstration!