VTOL Troubleshooting Workflows
Organize unstable flight behavior into a review process before touching random parameters.
This draft page is meant to help operators move from a vague symptom to the right first checks: orientation, servo direction, output order, transition setup, sensor trust, and failsafe behavior.
Where the first checks should start
Forward tilt on takeoff
Check flight-controller orientation, pitch correction direction, tilt-servo geometry, and output mapping before tune changes.
Wrong-way correction
Confirm that the aircraft and Mission Planner agree on attitude movement and that every affected surface responds in the correcting direction.
Transition instability
Review transition timing, tilt behavior, forward-throttle assumptions, and any airspeed dependencies.
Servo direction problems
Verify endpoints, reversal, and whether the assigned function matches the actual hardware output.
Motor or output mapping problems
Confirm motor order, spin direction, and which outputs are supposed to own VTOL motors, tilt servos, and control surfaces.
EKF, GPS, compass, or failsafe problems
Check heading trust, GPS lock quality, EKF health, RC-loss behavior, battery actions, and return mode expectations.
Use the same order every time
- Record the symptom, firmware version, airframe name, and the exact parameter file used.
- Compare against a known-good aircraft when one exists.
- Clear orientation, output, and mechanical-direction checks on the bench.
- Review grouped Q-mode, transition, sensor, and failsafe parameters.
- Make only the smallest necessary correction set.
- Retest cautiously and capture what changed.
Bad troubleshooting habits this page should discourage
Blind tune copying
A stable reference aircraft is evidence, not permission to paste every setting into a different geometry.
Skipping the bench gate
If motor or servo behavior has not been verified props-off, the next flight is still a guess.
Need a side-by-side review instead of a symptom list?
Use the dashboard when you already have parameter files, or request a review if the symptom still needs triage.