MTTF (mean time to failure) of engines and propellers.

[abant]

Since the loss of the propeller or failure of one of the engines means the death of the device almost always, I would like to know how often they should be replaced.
For example, for the Yuneec H520 drone, I have the following recommendations:


Is there something similar for Parrot Anafi?

 

[Rocky the FS]

I have seen the number 120 hours of flight. Mine showed evidence of nicks in the trailing edge long before that, say 50 hours. Since nicks will eventually progress into cracks that can cause loss of the entire blade, I replaced those. Other blades were fine at 50 hours.

I regularly run my fingertip along both leading and trailing edges and if I feel any roughness I inspect with bright light and magnifier.

In my case, I replaced the left props due to trailing edge nicks and the next day my Anafi bounced up off the landing pad and hit a weed, shutting down. When I inspected, I found small nicks in the brand new blades on one motor. This led me to believe that when the blade contacts anything substantial it kicks back against the opposite hub hard enough to get a nick, thus very close inspection after a crash or stoppage is highly recommended.

From now on I will replace blades on condition rather than any set number of hours.

 

[Jasper68]

I have seen the number 120 hours of flight. Mine showed evidence of nicks in the trailing edge long before that, say 50 hours. Since nicks will eventually progress into cracks that can cause loss of the entire blade, I replaced those. Other blades were fine at 50 hours.

I regularly run my fingertip along both leading and trailing edges and if I feel any roughness I inspect with bright light and magnifier.

In my case, I replaced the left props due to trailing edge nicks and the next day my Anafi bounced up off the landing pad and hit a weed, shutting down. When I inspected, I found small nicks in the brand new blades on one motor. This led me to believe that when the blade contacts anything substantial it kicks back against the opposite hub hard enough to get a nick, thus very close inspection after a crash or stoppage is highly recommended.

From now on I will replace blades on condition rather than any set number of hours.

 

[Jasper68]

Couldn't agree more...always check the blades as they're paper thin if any small Nick is present REPLACE!
I've had my Anafi drop from the Sky twice!
when the blade fails it completely fails with little to no warning..was like enough that when it did was relatively close to home!

 

[Waldo Pepper]

I have seen the number 120 hours of flight. Mine showed evidence of nicks in the trailing edge long before that, say 50 hours. Since nicks will eventually progress into cracks that can cause loss of the entire blade, I replaced those. Other blades were fine at 50 hours.

I regularly run my fingertip along both leading and trailing edges and if I feel any roughness I inspect with bright light and magnifier.

In my case, I replaced the left props due to trailing edge nicks and the next day my Anafi bounced up off the landing pad and hit a weed, shutting down. When I inspected, I found small nicks in the brand new blades on one motor. This led me to believe that when the blade contacts anything substantial it kicks back against the opposite hub hard enough to get a nick, thus very close inspection after a crash or stoppage is highly recommended.

From now on I will replace blades on condition rather than any set number of hours.

I agree Rocky,

I was thinking sort of the same, when the blade contacts something it applies even more pressure to the propellers weakest area.

Yesterday, Was testing a different controller antenna setup and when bringing the Anafi back from its long voyage didn’t want to land the Anafi on powder type dirt, so maneuvered Anafi over to a patch of grass to land. About a few inches from ground one of the motors propellers catches a patch of tall grass kicking the prop further into hub, after inspecting propellers one was nicked. And I had just replaced these earlier in the day.

It’s safe to say this may be how we’re damaging out propellers, sudden start-up when propellers are not positioned properly for take off and sudden stops from contact.

Thanks for sharing,
Paul

 

[Rocky the FS]

Today was the second time I had the Anafi descend all the way into the ground after missing the pad by 2 feet. This time the grass had just been mowed so no damage. It bounced up and I took over. There is something about grass that seems to confuse the bottom camera, or my bird is getting weird. From now on I'm taking over as it descends through 10 feet on the return. Or maybe 15 feet! It never slowed its descent at all....that's about 1.5 seconds to take manual control. I don't think I want to experiment over pavement!

 

[AnafiPilot]

I highly recommend hand launch and landing. Once you get the hang of it, there's more freedom in take-off and landing locations, and smaller chance of prop dings.

When landing, I hover it within reach, hold my hand flat under it (no errant finger tips curving up into the camera or prop), then land. I've been landing into the left hand, but, after a couple recent glitches, decided to switch to the right, so the left thumb can be on the control...in case it gets finicky, I can lift off and try again.

 

[Rocky the FS]

Oh, I've tried that many times. It doesn't always work as advertised. I've had it bounce out of my hand several times and only saved it from crashing by grabbing it out of the air. I will no longer attempt a hand landing if the wind is over 8-10 mph. Hand launch has always worked fine.

What I don''t understand is why on either landing on the pad or hovering for a hand landing it has started simply descending straight into the ground.

 

[Ansia]

Other than hitting an object. Are the Anafi propellers prone to cracking from normal wear and tear?

 

[Rocky the FS]

See the other thread, especially Agustine's comment about prop hub failure.

Replace props after how many flights?

As a general rule for any drone, inspecting props during each pre-flight check is important. I'm curious if folks have a set interval for replacing props. Obviously chips and cracks are indicators for immediate replacement, but I'm thinking about setting a hard and fast rule for myself...

parrotpilots.com

That changed my mind about number of flights as opposed to number of hours.