DJI Air 2S Gimbal Failure (& How to Fix It)

Your gimbal is an essential piece of equipment to operate your drone with purpose. Gimbal failure is a frequent issue for drones, even the state-of-the-art DJI Mavic Air 2S.

You’ll first need to diagnose the issue with your drone and afterward, take action.

In this article, we’ll explain the reasons why the DJI Air 2S model has this issue and the best way to solve it. 

How to avoid damage to your DJI Air 2S gimbal #

The DJI Air 2S gives continuous updates on the speed of wind and objects that are to be avoided.

Part 107 pilots shouldn’t fly in cloudy or rainy weather in the first place. It’s a good idea to adhere to the DJI suggestions as well as FAA guidelines.

This is an excellent rule of thumb to ensure the life of your drone, as well as your safety and the health and well-being of your DJI Air 2S’s gimbal.

Use good maintenance practices #

Gimbals may be damaged, jammed, or even broken when they’re not properly maintained. While it isn’t easy to remove and put on the gimbal cover after every flight, it is an extra layer of protection.

Be gentle when attaching your gimbal cover.

While the gimbal is fragile, it’s made to move. Adjusting it when attaching the gimbal cover will not hurt it as long as you are not forcing it.

If you did force it, this could be your problem.

It may be helpful to watch videos or read the manual to understand how to correctly place the gimbal cover on your gimbal.

Always remember to remove your drone’s gimbal cover before turning the drone on. If you do not, the gimbal will attempt to perform its initial test, and the motor will become overloaded due to it being restrained by the gimbal cover.

This can damage the gimbal if action is not taken quickly enough.

» Read More: DJI Inspire 2 Gimbal Failure (And How to Fix It)

Avoid crash landings #

A crash landing could cause the drone’s camera and gimbal system to be damaged or even broken off.

While the crash doesn’t necessarily have to be catastrophic for the drone, the gimbal is the most susceptible and vulnerable part of the UAV.

If your drone gimbal is limp while powered on, askew while powered on, or unresponsive while powered on after a crash, you’ll need to assess the severity of the damage. 

While it may not seem severe, a landing with anything more than a slow descent can cause damage to your drone’s gimbal.

You must place the DJI Air 2S in your hands or on the landing pad to launch and land safely.

Use a landing pad #

If an object less than a half inch away from the ground is right under the gimbal upon landing, it may block the camera, scratch it or even cause the gimbal to crack.

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Avoid jarring during flight #

The gimbal may also be damaged or jammed due to the fact that it was jarred during flight.

A collision, massive gusts of wind, rain, or droplets can cause disturbances during flight, which could cause your gimbal to become damaged or jammed.

How to fix your DJI Air 2S gimbal  #

Recalibrate and readjust- for non-severe impacts and disturbances #

Sometimes, fixing your gimbal is as easy as recalibration. It could only require one minor adjustment to bring the normal operations back on track.

How to recalibrate your Air 2S: #

1. Turn on the drone.
2. Connect your DJI controller to the drone.
3. Launch the flight application.
4. Go to camera control settings and select advanced.
5. Click “calibrate the gimbal“.
6. If the gimbal isn’t damaged detrimentally, it will alter and update as long as the DJI Air 2S is on a level and flat surface.

It is also possible to reboot your DJI Air 2S to fix any issues. #

Note: DJI Air2S GIMBAL ERROR 40021 may fall under this fix. If not, you may need to send your drone back to DJI support. Give them a call to discuss the situation, and if they feel you need to send it in, understand that they use proprietary software to reconfigure and recalibrate the software. It will run you around $100 to have this fixed.

How to readjust your Air 2S gimbal: #

It might sound easy; however, you may be trying to launch your DJI Air 2S using an unsuitable launch location.

To ensure the longevity of your gimbal, it’s crucial to launch and land in an area that is safe.

It’s equally important to make sure you have a secure launch platform that minimizes disruptions for the drone. The DJI Mavic models evolved over time, and the gimbal moved closer to the ground.

This can cause issues with the gimbal’s performance during DJI Air 2S boot-up.

The camera appears to be looking upwards, then will change into a 90° angle straight down, then another 20° further backward.

If the launchpad/area isn’t flat, the camera will not be capable of completing its test. It’ll get stuck in a loop, then turn up, drop, and repeat this process until damage in the yaw motor has occurred.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of having a secure launch zone. 

» Read More: DJI Mini 3 Pro Gimbal Failure (How to Fix It)

Fix your hardware and software – for moderately-severe impacts and disturbances. #

There are many moving parts within your Gimbal. Read on to find out how to fix it.

Examine the gimble #

If there are loose parts or cables, this could cause your camera to stop recording videos or restrict the motion of the gimbal. If your gimbal pieces are loose, gently push them back into place.

Downgrade software #

Remove the current program and downgrade the software. While this might sound like a flimsy idea, numerous users have found that it is effective.

The DJI Forum will help you navigate the procedure of downgrading.

Clean your yaw arm or motor #

It may be necessary to clean your yaw arm or motor if you’re at the very extreme of moderately serious impacts and disturbances. Error messages such as Gimbal Stuck: 40002 Error may appear.

The problem may be due to sediment getting stuck in motors or the arms. To determine if this is the cause, you must take apart the gimbal.

This can happen if you’re not using a launch pad or aren’t hand launching/landing.

Watch this video to visualize the process of gimbal disassembly. This video is of the Mavic Air 2, but the build is nearly identical.

Clean the sediment out if any is present, and reconstruct the gimbal. If none is found, move on to the next step.

If sediment is found, DO NOT remove the sediment by hand. You’ll more than likely cause more damage. Use a hand air pump to blow air into the compartment containing the sediment.

Replace your hardware – For severe impacts and disturbances. #

As we’ve already discussed, the yaw motor and the swing arm are weak links. This is a possibility in the event that there is no dust on the motors and the arm is in great condition. It could be a more severe issue. Keep reading.

Replace yaw arm #

Your gimbal may be reporting that it’s “overloaded.” If the gimbal isn’t moving, the yaw control does not function, or the gimbal is moving quickly upwards and downwards or sideways, you may need to buy new parts. 

When replacing your yaw arm, ensure that you test every option.

Watch this video to visualize the process of deconstruction and reconstruction. This video is of the Mavic Air 2, but the build is nearly identical.

Replace the entire gimbal #

This is the only option at this point. But, it’s not the riskiest thing. The DJI Air 2S is advanced equipment, including its sensors, camera unit, GNSS locator, propulsion technology motors, and receiver.

The gimbal is among the most affordable components of the drone.

It is important to take care of the DJI Air 2S. When it is not in use, put it back in the case and cover it with the gimbal protector. Don’t take off or land on rough or uneven terrain. Fly in safe conditions. Avoid crashing or hard landings.

If you do crash or experience any gimbal issues with the new DJI Air 2S, this article can aid you in identifying the issue and correcting it.

If you are still able to use your warranty to repair the drone, do it. If, however, your warranty is expired, this article can assist you in repairing the DJI Air 2S.

» Read More: DJI Mini 2 Gimbal Failure (How to Fix It)