Neo flyaway into a lake

[Pablodrone]

Took my Neo with me camping and using the palm dronie function it flew backwards and over the water and drowned never to be found. I sent a flyaway to dji yesterday and although I have Dji care they’re saying it will be $89 us for the replacement! This is a $199 drone with insurance. I saw other drone replacement costs less than the Neo and the Neo isn’t even listed on their replacement cost page. The replacement price of 89 is something that was given in an email.

“We found that you have the DJI Care Refresh available and upon your confirmation, I can request a quotation for the flyaway replacement fee of USD 89. The DJI Care Refresh replacement package will include the aircraft body, one battery, and propellers”

 

[Pablodrone]

Does DJI charge 50% for the replacement fee of any of their other drones if you have insurance?

 

[GFields]

I had my Air 3 replaced but don't think I had to pay anything.

 

[Kilrah]

You don't pay for crash damage, you do pay if the aircraft is not retrievable and there is no bound device controlling it that could provide logs of the event since there is then zero proof it actually happened. People could just say "it flew away" when nothing happened, keep it and receive another one for free, and of course some would.

 

[GFields]

You don't pay for crash damage, you do pay if the aircraft is not retrievable and there is no bound device controlling it that could provide logs of the event since there is then zero proof it actually happened. People could just say "it flew away" when nothing happened, keep it and receive another one for free, and of course some would.

Makes sense.

 

[NeoNeo]

The downward IR sensors do not seem to be the best. Did your Neo decide to fly away on its own? The smooth and maybe reflective surface of water is probably too much for the Neo sensors to detect. Similar fly away events when the Neo flight path gets too dark. Just a heads up when flying your replacement Neo.

Only personally know of one other DJI user. We both have passed on the aftermarket replacement programs. We both just fly and replace if we crash and trash. For both of us retrieval of a downed drone could be difficult. My friend is just into video capture and flies mostly over water. Pay up front and maybe never need or pay more if needed. Just personal choice.

 

[Pablodrone]

I launched the Neo from my palm so there was no log available. The drone took off horizontally and dropped into the water.

 

[GerdS]

In such situations the Neo usually has no GPS fix yet, so it must rely on the optical positioning system which doesn't work over water. Typical user mistake.
There is a warning within the manual for not flying over water.