Pre-Flight Checklist

calendar Jul 13, 2026 · 4 min read · fpv safety checklist preflight betaflight arming motors props  ·
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A methodical pre-flight check prevents the most common crash causes: wrong motor direction, loose props, dead receiver link, and arming flags. Five minutes before every session, not just the first flight of a build.

Full Checklist

1 — Battery and Power

  • Cell voltages balanced (within 0.05V of each other under no load)
  • Pack charged to target voltage (4.20V/cell full, 4.35V/cell for HV packs)
  • XT60/XT30 connector clean — no burned or corroded contacts
  • Battery strap tight; pack cannot shift under flight loads
  • No puffing on the pack (cells visibly swollen = remove from service)

2 — Frame and Hardware

  • All screws tight — motor screws, arm screws, standoffs, stack screws
  • Props tight and seated fully on the shaft
  • Correct prop rotation: Props In (inner edge leading) or Props Out — match your motor direction setup
  • No cracks in arms or frame plates (check after any crash)
  • Camera angle secure; no loose pivot screw

3 — Motor Direction

This is the single most common wiring mistake that causes an immediate flip on first takeoff.

flowchart TD
    A[Betaflight<br/>Motor tab] --> B[Enable motor test<br/>WARNING: remove props first]
    B --> C[Spin each motor<br/>individually at ~10%]
    C --> D{Direction correct?}
    D -->|Yes for all 4| E[Re-attach props]
    D -->|Wrong for any| F[Reverse that motor]
    F --> G["Motors tab: tick Reverse<br/>on the wrong motor<br/>props off"]
    G --> C

Standard Betaflight layout (Props In / Butterflight style):

MotorPositionDirection
M1Rear rightCCW
M2Front rightCW
M3Rear leftCW
M4Front leftCCW

Test without props. Always.

4 — RC Link

  • Transmitter powered on BEFORE connecting battery
  • ELRS/receiver LED solid (bound) — not blinking (searching)
  • Move all sticks and switches; confirm response in Betaflight Receiver tab
  • Throttle at zero before arming
  • ARM switch in disarm position at powerup

5 — Betaflight Arming Flags

Connect USB (optional at the field — use the Betaflight app if available) and check:

 1# In CLI:
 2status
 3
 4# Arming prevention flags to resolve:
 5# RXLOSS    → receiver not connected / failsafe active
 6# NOGYRO    → IMU not detected (hardware fault)
 7# CALIB     → IMU still calibrating (wait ~10s after powerup)
 8# ANGLE     → Angle mode active but accelerometer not calibrated
 9# BADVIBES  → excessive vibration on IMU
10# ARMSWITCH → ARM switch not in disarm position

If you don't have USB access, watch the motors and OSD. Most arming flags show on the OSD if configured.

6 — OSD and Video

  • FPV goggles receiving signal; OSD visible
  • Battery voltage shown on OSD (sanity check — should match pack)
  • GPS satellite count (if equipped) — wait for adequate lock
  • VTX on correct channel for the session (avoid conflicts with other pilots)

7 — Final Check

  • Flying site legal: airspace authorised, no restricted zones overhead
  • People clear of the takeoff area
  • Hand prop-check: spin each prop by hand, confirm tight, correct rotation
  • First spin: arm at low throttle, verify quad lifts level — not flip, not lean

After Every Crash

flowchart TD
    CRASH([Crash]) --> DISARM[Disarm immediately<br/>before walking to quad]
    DISARM --> INSPECT[Visual inspection]
    INSPECT --> PROPS{Props broken?}
    PROPS -->|Yes| REPLACE[Replace before next flight]
    PROPS -->|No| MOTORS{Motors spin freely?<br/>No grinding?}
    MOTORS -->|No| MOTOR_CHECK[Check for bent shaft<br/>or debris in bell]
    MOTORS -->|Yes| FRAME{Frame cracks?}
    FRAME -->|Yes| FRAME_FIX[Do not fly<br/>until repaired]
    FRAME -->|No| ARM_CHECK[Check motor screws<br/>and rerun checklist]

A crash that felt minor at high throttle can bend a motor shaft invisibly. Spin each motor by hand and feel for rough bearing or wobble before flying again.

Quick Field Card (Print/Screenshot)

 1PRE-FLIGHT:
 2□ Battery: balanced, charged, strap tight
 3□ Props: tight, correct rotation
 4□ Motors: tested direction (remove props first!)
 5□ RC link: bound, all controls responding
 6□ ARM switch: DISARM position at powerup
 7□ OSD: voltage showing, GPS locked (if applicable)
 8□ Airspace: clear and legal
 9
10POST-CRASH:
11□ Disarm before walking out
12□ Props: check for chips or cracks
13□ Motors: spin by hand — smooth and free?
14□ Frame: no cracks in arms or plates
15□ Battery: not puffed
16□ Screws: check motor screws

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