[Edit 2017-06-15: This video was initially posted just for GoPro Support to understand the situation where my GoPro Karma drone had a runaway issue. When the connection was lost between the Controller and the Drone, GoPro support said that "tried to turn around once the connection was broken" but it definitely did not return to the launch point in a safe manner.
By the way, GoPro's claimed max speed is "35MPH" (https://gopro.com/help/articles/Question_Answer/What-is-Sport-Mode-on-Karma) -- mine went 54mph. The comments below
I just received word today that GoPro is declining my claim (see email here https://goo.gl/photos/DHBv4gdkvJXTb3Ni8).
Since GoPro Support isn't going help, this video has been release for public viewing.
Enjoi!!
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I've had the Karma for about 2 months. On Memorial Day weekend (Sunday, May 28, 2017) I took the Karma out for a series of flights along the water front in Santa Barbara, CA (USA). The first two flights (first at Leadbetter Beach, then later off the SB Breakwater itself) were fine.
When I did my third flight, I launched near the SB Skate Park, just east of Stearns Wharf. The plan was to go out and circle the wharf, then come back and do an orbit around the skateboard park.
At about 1:00m into the flight, the Karma had reached the end of the wharf and I was starting my arc to return back to short. (Note: the outbound speed was around 17-20mph) Around this time, the Karma Controller gave a verbal warning that the GPS was lost. Rather than the Karma attempting to hold position, it started accelerating (30mph at first, then 54mph) and loose altitude. In fact, the Karma came very close to the water ("7 ft" according to the telemetry at 1:22) -- watching the live feed on the controller, I thought it was going to splash, but some how the Karma was able to pull up (I am not sure if that was from me or controller, or the Karma itself). At 1:28, the Karma was heading back to my position, then started drifting more westward at 1:34. At 1:45, I was able to see that I can control the yaw, but the Karma continue to head west at a rapid pace. (I could not control the speed or direction.) I could see in the live feed, the Karma was above the beach then the video dropped. The controller said it was now attempting to connect with the Karma. At some point the controller went to a black screen with the message "the Karam is hovering, and will land in 3:00".
I started on foot heading to the direction where I thought the Karma made land fall. By the time I got into the general area (about 300-400 yards from my initial position), the last image what the camera saw was now showing on the control. The picture was of a building (looked like a hotel room) and a parking lot. It took a while to figure out what building... but then I saw two kids up stairs of one building. They asked me if I was looking for a drone and I said yes. The kids were already in the process of retrieving the drone before I got there. They were able bring me the smashed Karma. The Hero5 broke from the gimble and required a second search to locate.
