Drones have become a popular tool for capturing stunning visuals, exploring new hobbies, and even completing professional missions. While no pilot wants to see an accident happen, what should we do with a broken drone once it malfunctions?
Before dealing with a broken drone, we need to clarify whether the damage to the drone is due to a hard landing, mechanical failure, collision injury, or daily wear and tear in order to better deal with the drone.
Key Points
- The best option is to send the broken drone to the original manufacturer for repair.
- If the drone cannot be repaired, its parts can be assembled into a new drone or sold.
- Drone batteries from a broken drone should be handled with care as they may be a fire hazard.
Dealing with Broken Drone Tips 1: Assess the extent of the damage
The first step is to assess the extent of the damage. Some problems, such as cracked propellers or dead batteries, are minor issues and can be easily fixed. Other problems, such as motor failure or damaged circuit boards, may require professional help or render the drone unusable.
Key Questions to Know:
- Does the drone turn on?
- Are the propellers, motors, or cameras working properly?
- Is there any obvious physical damage?
If the problem is not clear, consult the drone manual or online forums for troubleshooting tips specific to your drone model. Autel drones come with a one-year warranty, and the purchase of Autel Care also supports free replacements for consumer drones. This is a very beneficial drone insurance.
Dealing with Broken Drone Tips 2: Attempt a repair
Depending on the extent of the damage, you may be able to repair the drone yourself. If the drone accessories are damaged, the drone itself is not affected too much, and you can buy new genuine drone accessories to replace them. For example, propellers, propeller guards, blades, batteries or landing gear.
DIY repair tips: Order original drone parts and stick to manufacturer-recommended parts to ensure compatibility.
If you are just a drone beginner and know that the drone is not only damaged by accessories, but also has different degrees of damage to the drone's internal sensors and motherboard, please do not repair it yourself to avoid further damage to the drone. Contact a professional repair service or the drone manufacturer and the drone manufacturer's authorized repair center for support.
Dealing with Broken Drone Tips 3: Sell parts
If repairs are impractical or too expensive, consider selling the damaged drone parts. Many hobbyists and repair shops look for used drones or damaged drones to recycle parts.
Drone parts are sold on some online marketplaces, drone community groups, and drone forums. Drone manufacturers usually do not recycle damaged drones. When selling parts for a damaged drone, please inform the buyer of all circumstances in advance to avoid disputes.
Dealing with Broken Drone Tips 4: Recycle Responsibly
Drones contain electronic components, batteries, and other materials that should not be thrown into the regular trash. Recycling ensures that these materials are handled safely and sustainably.
Autel Robotics does not sell used or refurbished drones, so there is no corresponding recycling program for old or damaged drones. Drone pilots who want to recycle their drones can find professional electronics recycling service companies to handle them.
Dealing with Broken Drone Tips 5: Reuse for Creative Projects
A damaged drone is not necessarily completely useless. If you are creative, you can reuse its parts for DIY projects. For example, build a custom drone, do modified art, or use it for educational purposes.
If you fly an FPV drone, there is a good chance that you can buy new components and combine useful parts to assemble a new FPV drone. Assembling a drone is a great learning opportunity and starting point for cultivating a DIY drone hobby.
Dealing with Broken Drone Tips 6: Safe Disposal
If recycling or repurposing is not possible, be sure to dispose of your drone properly. Remove the battery and take it to a battery recycling center. For the rest of your drone, check out your local guide to disposing of e-waste.
Final Thoughts
A damaged drone doesn’t have to end up as debris or in a landfill. By assessing the extent of the damage, exploring repair options, or finding creative ways to repurpose or recycle it, you can give your drone a new lease of life or ensure it’s disposed of responsibly and potentially earn some compensation in return.
Remember, every little bit of effort helps reduce e-waste and promote sustainability.
Read more:
3 Things to Know About Autel Drone Repair
What to Know Before Autel Drone Servicing
Get Peace of Mind: Tips For Making Drone Insurance Repairs and Replacements
What is Drone Insurance and Why It Matters
What is Autel Robotics Care & Third Party Liability Insurance?
