Parrot Bebop 2 Unstable Flight (Reasons and How to Fix It)

One of the most perplexing glitches that owners and pilots of the Parrot Bebop 2 drone are reporting is the sudden inability of their drone to have a stable flight. This unfortunate event usually unfolds in the same order; the pilot boots up their drone and preps for flight as usual, gives it a bit of throttle, but as soon as the drone is in the air, the flight pattern is remarkably unstable. So, what are some of the reasons your Parrot Bebop drone has unstable flight?

The Parrot Bebop 2 may be unstable in flight due to a weak signal, improperly mounted or damaged propellers, insufficient battery charge, misaligned gyroscope, or miscalibrated IMU and compass.

In this article, we will discuss all that relates to your Parrot Bebop 2 having unstable flight issues, and give you tips on how you can solve the problem. 

Why does my Parrot Bebop 2 have unstable flight? #

There are quite a few reports of Parrot Bebop 2 drones experiencing malfunctions while in flight that affects the stability of the drone. These malfunctions can be hard even for a trained eye to identify, but the good news is that dealing with them isn’t so hard.

We all know that it is essential for a drone to be stable while flying or even hovering in place. If the drone isn’t stable in flight, then you can never get good-quality photos and videos, and you run the risk of crashing into obstacles or having other issues with general flight control.

So, with all that said, what may be the reasons behind your Parrot Bebop drone being unstable in flight?

1. Weak signal #

Believe it or not, one of the possible reasons your Parrot Bebop 2 drone may have an unstable flight is if there is a weak signal between your drone and the controller. For a drone to fly smoothly, the connection between the drone and the controller should be strong to allow for communication between the two. 

The signal can be compromised by certain obstacles such as tall buildings and trees, and power lines, which can interfere with the drone’s Wi-Fi signal connection. 

A weak signal means you won’t be able to control your drone, and as such, it will fly erratically and most probably have an unstable flight. To help with this issue, avoid flying in an area with obstacles or where there may be electrical interference. Always make sure your drone and controller are well connected.

2. Your Parrot Bebop 2 drone propellers aren’t properly mounted #

Propellers are arguably one of your drone’s most important components. They get your drone into the air and keep it up there until you bring it back down. Without the propellers, or if the propellers aren’t properly mounted, then you can forget about having a smooth flight with your drone, and at times won’t be able to even get the drone off the ground.

You have to be careful to attach your drone’s propellers in the proper configuration so as to create the necessary airflow to lift the drone and keep it balanced while flying. If your Parrot Bebop 2 drone’s propellers aren’t affixed where they’re supposed to be, then this may cause your drone to have an unstable flight.

3. Damaged propellers #

The slightest damage to your Parrot Bebop 2 drone’s propellers can cause your drone to have erratic flights. Just a chink or crack on one propeller is enough for your drone to exhibit unstable flight as soon as you launch it into the air. In such a case, the only option is to get new propellers.

4. Battery with insufficient charge #

As you probably very well know, your drone’s battery has to be fully charged before you take it out for a flight. This is often one thing most people overlook, and you run into a lot of problems with flying the drone if you try to take it out without a full charge. In some cases, an insufficiently charged battery can cause your drone to exhibit unstable flight before it finally falls from the sky when the charge gets depleted.

To avoid this type of issue, make sure your drone’s battery is fully charged before a flight.

5. Misaligned gyroscope #

The purpose of a gyroscope is to measure the rate of rotation, and it helps to keep your drone balanced. The gyroscope is used to provide your drone with stability or to maintain a reference direction. So, for your Parrot Bebop 2 drone to fly perfectly, the gyros have to be aligned.

Misaligned gyros may be responsible for your drone experiencing unstable flight, so it’s important to ensure that the gyros are aligned. To calibrate your gyroscope, use the FreeFlight App. Go to settings and press calibrate. Follow the instructions shown, and once all the axes are shown as valid, the calibration will be done.

6. Miscalibrated IMU #

The IMU is important to keeping your drone straight and level. Without a well-calibrated IMU, your drone will think it’s drifting off in a certain direction and then create an opposite input, and it will become very difficult to control the drone, and you won’t have a stable flight at all.

If you suspect that the issue is with the IMU or with the compass (see below), using the manual for reference, properly calibrate your drone’s IMU and compass.

7. Miscalibrated compass #

Good compass calibration is important to ensure a safe and controlled flight of your drone. If you fly your drone with a miscalibrated compass at any time, you may observe it flying erratically and with unpredictable movements. This is why it’s always important to calibrate the compass before a flight.

How to fix my Parrot Bebop 2 unstable flight? #

So, now that you know why your Parrot Bebop 2 may be unstable in flight, here are tips to fix the problem:

• If the propellers are damaged, you should get replacement propellers and mount them onto your drone in the correct manner.
• Make sure your drone’s battery is fully charged before a flight.
• Avoid flying in an area with obstacles or where there may be electrical interference. Make sure your drone and controller are well connected.
• Calibrate your gyroscope using the FreeFlight App. Go to settings and press calibrate. Follow the instructions shown, and once all the axes are shown as valid, the calibration will be done.
• Using the manual for reference, properly calibrate your drone’s IMU and compass.
• Reset your drone’s firmware.

These tips should help you if your Parrot Bebop 2 is unstable in flight. Try them out, and your drone should be ready for smooth sailing once again.