5.3 Emergency Procedures

Handling In-Flight Emergencies

Drone emergencies develop in seconds, so the Remote PIC's edge is preparation: a briefed crew, a configured failsafe, and a rehearsed response. The exam tests both the regulatory reporting rule and the airmanship response to each common failure.

1. Loss of Control Link (Flyaway)

The aircraft stops receiving commands from the control station. Before flight, set the Return-to-Home (RTH) altitude above every obstacle in the area, confirm the home point is recorded at the launch site, and verify a strong GPS lock (a typical minimum is roughly 6 or more satellites). If it occurs: do not panic — most aircraft execute a failsafe (RTH or land-in-place). Attempt to regain the link by moving toward the aircraft or power-cycling the controller, monitor the RTH path for obstacles, and if the aircraft is truly running away near controlled airspace, contact Air Traffic Control.

The trap answer claims the aircraft "drops out of the sky" — it does not; modern units run a programmed failsafe.

2. Low or Failing Battery

Lithium-polymer (LiPo) packs lose voltage fast under load. When a critical-low warning fires, you may have only 10-30 seconds of usable flight. Land at the nearest safe location; do not gamble on a long return to the launch point. Set a personal habit of recovering by roughly 30 percent remaining charge so you never reach the critical threshold airborne.

3. Motor Failure

A stopped motor makes a quadcopter yaw and descend. Some airframes hold a controlled descent on three motors via the flight controller; either way, guide the descent away from people and property and document the failure for maintenance and any required report.

4. GPS Loss

Near tall buildings or dense canopy the aircraft may drop to ATTI (attitude) mode, holding attitude but not position — wind will push it, so you must fly it manually. Climbing may reacquire satellites; otherwise hand-fly to an open landing area and avoid the urban "canyons" where multipath errors are worst.

5. Incursion of a Manned Aircraft

Under §107.37, a small UAS must yield the right of way to all aircraft. The response is immediate: descend and move away from the manned aircraft's path, land if practical, and resume only after it has cleared. Never try to out-climb or out-run it — the manned aircraft is faster, has the right of way, and may not see you.

Emergency Action Plan

Post-Emergency and Reporting (§107.9)

After any event: secure the aircraft (power off, remove the battery), check for injuries, and document with photos and timestamps. Then apply the §107.9 reporting test. The Remote PIC must report to the FAA within 10 calendar days if the operation caused:

• Serious injury to any person, or any loss of consciousness; or
• Damage to property other than the aircraft of more than $500 — judged by repair cost (parts plus labor) or, for a total loss, fair market value.

If repair cost or fair market value is $500 or less, no report is required. Reports are filed through FAA DroneZone. Investigate the root cause, repair the aircraft, and update your maintenance log before flying again.

Deconfliction and Pre-Planned Altitudes

Many emergencies are best handled by planning that happens long before launch. Set the Return-to-Home altitude above the tallest obstacle in the operating area so an automatic recovery does not fly the aircraft into a tower or tree line. Define a lost-link decision point with the crew: how long you will wait for the failsafe to take effect before treating it as a true flyaway, and who calls emergency services if needed.

Identify two or three alternate landing zones in advance so that, when a low battery or motor fault forces an immediate descent, the pilot is choosing among pre-scouted open areas rather than improvising over people or traffic.

Fire and Battery Safety

Lithium-polymer batteries deserve special emergency attention because a damaged or overheated pack can enter thermal runaway — a self-sustaining reaction that produces intense heat, smoke, and flame that water alone will not stop. If a battery is hissing, swelling, or venting, do not handle it; move it to a non-combustible surface clear of people. Carry a Class B or Class D rated extinguisher rather than relying on water, store packs in a fire-resistant container, and never charge unattended.

After any hard landing or crash, treat the battery as suspect even if the aircraft looks intact, because internal cell damage may not be visible.

For the Exam: Two anchors recur — yield to manned aircraft by descending and moving clear, and the §107.9 thresholds (serious injury / loss of consciousness / over $500 in third-party damage, reported within 10 calendar days).