Important tips for maintaining your drone

We’ve talked a lot about drone usage and ownership here at iDB, including learning everything you need to know about legally flying under Section 44809 recreational rules in the United States per the federal regulations that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforces and expects you to follow.

But outside of actually flying and capturing stunning aerial video footage, there is a responsibility that a lot of drone owners seem to shirk because they think it’s just a toy, and that’s maintaining the drone.

Believe it or not, the FAA expects you to maintain your drone for safe flying, just as you’d expect a major airline to maintain the airplane that you use to fly from one location to another. After all, we don’t want things falling out of the sky when they shouldn’t be, do we?

In today’s piece, we’ll go over some important maintenance tips that drone owners should be aware of so that they can keep their equipment in tip-top shape.

Maintaining your drone 101

We previously talked about all the steps that you should take before, during, and after a flight to ensure the safe operation of your drone. But maintenance is the thing you do between flights, such as after you’ve packed up your equipment and went home for the day.

Your drone, no matter how large or small, is a miniature aircraft. Most come in quadcopter configurations, which have four propellers that work in unison to generate lift and stabilize the aircraft in whatever calm or gusty condition it’s operating in. Heavier and costlier drones can have a higher number of propellers. All of this equates to a significant amount of moving parts that can wear out and need to be inspected frequently.

There are some basic procedures that you should always follow to maintain your drone and ensure its airworthiness. After all, failing to maintain your drone equipment and then sending it to the skies could be considered reckless flying by the FAA, and that could land you in some hot regulatory water.

To prevent any unexpected issues with your drone during flight, consider the following maintenance checklist:

Perform a structural inspection

One of the most important things you can do when inspecting your drone is to ensure that chassis is structurally sound. Some of the things you’ll look at include:

The propellers

Ensure that the propellers are in good condition and that they aren’t showing signs of premature wear and tear, such as stress marks, cracks, chips, dents, or loose connections. Make sure that they spin freely and that they don’t feel like they’re binding in any way.

The propeller arms

Ensure that the propeller arms aren’t loose and that they lock into place (if they move). Clean off any dirt or debris and use compressed air to blow any dust out of the propeller motors.

The body

Take a good look at the body of your drone to ensure that there are no signs of cracking, stress marks, or dents. Make sure that any markings on your drone, such as registration numbers, are attached and legible. Clean off any dust that may obfuscate the directional safety sensors or markings.

The antennas

If your drone has external antennas, make sure they’re in good shape, that they haven’t snapped off, and that they’re oriented properly. Your antennas keep your drone operational in the sky, so protect them at all costs.

The wiring

Ensure that all your drone’s wires are fray-free and that they’re connected. A crash or an improperly stored drone can cause wire damage. When wires become damaged, the drone’s operations become unpredictable and it’s unsafe to fly.

The camera

Inspect the camera lens to ensure that there aren’t any scratches or chips. You will also want to perform an inspection of the gimbal to ensure that it operates smoothly and that there isn’t any unwanted wobbling in its operation.

The battery

Make sure your batteries are free of cracks, dents, and swelling. A swollen battery should be properly discarded and replaced at first sight as to prevent battery fires. It’s a good idea to not store your batteries at 100% or 0% charge. If you won’t be flying your drone for a while, then keep your batteries somewhere between 30% and 70% charge until you’re ready to use them.

Any screws

Manually go over any screws occasionally to ensure they’re tight. When exposed to oscillating temperature conditions, especially in unstable climates such as tropical regions, parts can shrink and expand with the temperature changes, and this can result in loosened screws. Parts may also become loose due to the stresses of flying and performing rapid in-air maneuvers.

Perform regular software updates

The longer you own your drone, the more likely your manufacturer is to issue a software update of some kind. These updates can improve or optimize performance and address issues with the device’s operation. Check for the following software updates frequently to ensure the best performance of your drone:

The drone itself

You may find software updates for the drone itself, or for individual components of your drone. For example, updates to the logic board could improve GPS positioning, sensor performance, or return to home functionality, among other things.

The motors

You may also find software updates for the propeller motor controllers, which can improve power consumption and in-air handling characteristics.

The camera

You may also find software updates for the camera that could improve auto-focusing or image quality. If you have a multi-camera drone, such as wide angle, a zoom, and maybe even a thermal camera, then you could see updates for only one of those cameras.

The battery

Some batteries may even have software updates. These updates may improve battery performance, reduce battery drain, and prevent premature battery aging.

Attachments

If your drone supports attachments, then you may also need software updates for those attachments. Examples include RTK modules, loudspeakers, flashlights, and parachutes, just to name a few. Some attachments are more likely to have software updates than others.

The remote controller

You are also likely to find software updates for your remote controller. These updates can improve radio signal range, battery life, features in the flight software, and more.

Your maps

Some controllers have built-in maps. You will want to keep these updated regularly because they can contain important flight data about where you’ve flown and keep you apprised of controller airspace so that you stay out of trouble with the FAA.

Inspect your accessories

Drone operators will use accessories when flying their drone to perform a safe flight. You will want to make sure all that stuff is also operational and functioning properly. Those may include:

Your strobe lights

If you fly in the dark or during civil twilight, then you need to use a strobe light per the FAA. You will want to make sure this stays charged and that it operates as expected (remains visible from three statute miles away).

Your landing gear

Ensure that any landing pads you have are free of fraying or holes so that your drone doesn’t kick up dirt when it lands. Wipe off any dirt that has accumulated from past flights. Make sure that your drone’s landing gear (if it has any) works properly and stays structurally rigid enough to support the weight of your drone.

Your remote

Be sure to regularly check your remote for signs of wear and tear that could affect safe drone flight, including cracks or scratches in the screen that could cause glare, or swelling in the case from the internal battery. It’s a good idea to invest in a screen protector if you haven’t already.

Your carrying case

Inspect your carrying case to ensure that the latches all work properly and that everything has been put back properly. Keeping your drone stored properly prevents damage to components and ensures that you will have everything you need on your next flight.

Check your licenses and certificates

This is an often-overlooked part of drone upkeep, but you should make it habit of yours to look at your drone’s registration to make sure it’s not expired and to check your Part 107 license (if applicable) to make sure you’re not due for FAA recurrent training. If you only took the TRUST test for recreational flying, then you don’t need to worry about expiration dates or recurrent training.

Pro Tip: Keep a log

It’s a good idea to keep a record book or digital record of your drone’s maintenance records. Doing so helps you determine when things might be due for replacements, such as propellers, batteries, gimbals, and more. If you don’t keep a record log, you might forget how long it’s been since you last serviced parts, and this can make it tougher to follow the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines.

Wrapping up

Keeping your drone well maintained will help you develop a keen eye for problems that could arise later down the road. You’ll learn to recognize potential risks that could affect a safe flight, and more importantly, you’ll learn how to deal with them so that your drone is always ready for the next flight.

When was the last time you took maintenance steps for your drone? Let us know in the comments section down below.

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