Drone Crash & Water Damage Repair in Charlotte, NC
A crash or water landing can damage several systems at once and corrosion keeps spreading after drying; the shop does full disassembly, corrosion treatment, board and structural repair, rebuild, recalibration and test flight.
Bring the drone in as soon as you can, powered off with the battery out. We fully strip it, treat corrosion, repair or replace damaged boards, motors, gimbal and frame, then rebuild, recalibrate and test fly it. The diagnostic is free and the exact price for your model is shown on this page. These repairs take 5 to 10 days and carry our 90-day warranty.
Signs you need this repair
A cracked shell, a snapped arm and a dangling gimbal after one crash means more damage inside too. The impact travels through the whole aircraft.
Lakes, pools and puddles all count, and so does flying in heavy rain. Even if it looks dry, water reaches the boards.
Motors twitching, random restarts or errors that come and go are signs of corrosion or moisture on the board.
A drone that was fine before the dunk and dead after has likely shorted something. Don't keep trying to power it.
White or green crust, rust on screws or dirt in the vents means water or debris got in and corrosion has started.
IMU and compass warnings, or drift that wasn't there before, after a hard hit mean the sensors need checking and calibrating.
What usually causes it
Flying into trees, walls or the ground from height breaks parts across several systems at once.
Low battery over water, signal loss or a gust can put a drone in a lake. Lake and pond water carries minerals that speed corrosion.
Most consumer drones aren't sealed. Flying in rain or dense fog lets water into the motors, vents and connectors.
Turning a wet drone on to check it is what often turns a recoverable drone into a short. Current through water damages chips.
How we fix it
- 1Full teardown
We take the drone completely apart, because crash and water damage doesn't stay in one place. Every board, connector, motor and cable is inspected under the microscope.
- 2Assessment and quote
You get a full list of what's damaged, what we can repair and what has to be replaced, with a quote. If footage recovery matters, tell us and we'll prioritize it.
- 3Corrosion treatment
Boards are cleaned to remove minerals and corrosion, especially under chips and around connectors where water hides. Then they're dried thoroughly before any power is applied.
- 4Board and component repair
Shorted or corroded components are found and replaced at board level here in Charlotte. Motors, the gimbal, arms and shell are repaired or replaced as needed.
- 5Rebuild
The drone is reassembled with new parts where needed, and every connector is checked for a clean, secure fit.
- 6Calibrate and test fly
We calibrate the IMU, compass and gimbal, confirm the controller link, and test fly it before it's ready.
What usually needs work
Crash and water repairs vary more than any other drone job. Here's what typically comes up.
Corroded or shorted components replaced at board level where possible.
Water leaves residue in the bearings and windings. Motors that grind or overheat get replaced.
Ribbon cables, gimbal motors and camera parts damaged by impact or corrosion.
Shells, arms and legs broken in the crash.
How long it takes
Crash and water damage repairs take 5 to 10 days. The teardown and corrosion treatment take time and can't be rushed, since drying properly before power is part of the repair. Damage to several systems, board-level work and ordered parts put it at the longer end. We update you after the assessment.
Models we repair
What customers say
I have been brining my family’s devices here for years now and it is always a pleasure. Mike & Gus are very knowledgeable and are able to communicate device issues honestly and in layman terms. Pricing is always fair and reasonable as well. Could not recommend them more to anyone in search of tech repair.Nathan Chadbourne · Repair · Google review
Michael is a total hero! Seriously, everyone on this team is amazing. They work absolute miracles every single day on our most complicated devices, from phones to computers. Best of all, they handle everything with incredible kindness and precision. They are exactly who you want in your corner when tech disasters strike out of nowhere. I also ended up replacing my laptop with one in their store. They gave me a great price too!Lynn N. · Repair · Yelp review
Very fast and reliable service! Very professional and they get the job done right the first time!! My device is like new!! Would definitely recommend!Ron Stoppable · Repair · Google review
Real customer reviews from Google and Yelp, quoted word for word. … marks where a longer review was shortened.
Before you bring it in
- Take the battery out right away, and the microSD card too. Keep the card dry and don't format it.
- Don't power the drone on to test it.
- If it was in lake or salt water, bring it in as soon as you can. Don't wait for it to dry out.
- Gently tip out standing water. Don't use a hair dryer or heat it.
- Don't charge a battery that was in water. Bring it separately or leave it outside until we look at it.
Repair or replace?
A drone that comes in quickly, with the battery pulled and no attempt to power it, often repairs well. One that sat wet for a week, or was powered on repeatedly, may have damage that costs more than a new drone. After the teardown we tell you plainly which side your drone is on. If replacing makes more sense, we can still try to recover the footage.
Thinking of fixing it yourself?
The most useful things you can do yourself are pull the battery, pull the card and don't power it on. Rice doesn't help. It doesn't reach the boards and leaves dust in the vents. Opening the drone to dry it can tear the gimbal ribbon and antenna cables, and drying doesn't remove the minerals that keep corroding the board. Get it to us quickly instead.
After your repair
- Fly the first few flights close by, low, and over open ground.
- Watch for new errors or drift in the next few weeks and bring it back if they show up.
- Avoid flying in rain or fog, and land on a pad instead of wet grass.
- Keep the return-to-home altitude set above the trees where you fly.
Questions people ask
My drone landed in water. Can it be saved?
Often, if you pulled the battery quickly and didn't power it on. We tear it down, treat the corrosion and repair the board. The sooner it gets here, the better the odds.
Should I fly my drone after a crash to test it?
No. Hidden damage to an arm, a motor or the IMU can make it fail in the air. Have it inspected first.
How long does crash or water damage repair take?
Usually 5 to 10 days. Cleaning and drying can't be rushed, and multi-part damage takes longer.
How much does crash or water damage repair cost?
Prices start where this page shows them. Your quote comes after the full teardown, once we know exactly what's damaged.
I already let my drone dry out. Is it too late?
Not necessarily, but drying doesn't remove corrosion. Bring it in. The longer the minerals sit on the board, the more damage they do.
Should I put my drone in rice?
No. Rice doesn't dry the boards inside and can leave dust in the motors and vents. Pull the battery and bring it in.
Can you recover my footage even if the drone can't be fixed?
Often, yes. The microSD card can usually be read separately, and on models with internal storage we may be able to recover it at board level.
Is the flight battery safe after water?
Treat it as unsafe. Don't charge it. Keep it outside on a hard surface away from anything flammable and let us check it.
Related repairs
Before you book
Mail-in repair from anywhere in the U.S.
Free diagnostic when it arrives. Free insured shipping back.
- 1Tell us your model and the problem
- 2Ship it insured. We diagnose it within a day
- 3Approve the price. Fixed and back in 7–10 days