Emergency Propeller Stop lets you cut a DJI drone's motors in mid-air. On the Mini 5 Pro you do it with the same combination stick command (CSC) that starts the motors, held for two seconds. On the Avata 2 with the RC Motion 3, you press the lock button four times. By default it only works when the drone detects an emergency, and stopping the motors in flight will make the drone fall and crash.
Why it exists
The feature is for situations where a spinning drone is more dangerous than a falling one: the drone has hit something, a motor has stalled, it's tumbling, or it's climbing or dropping fast out of control. Stopping the props can limit injury or damage. It's a last resort, not a way to land.
DJI Mini 5 Pro
From DJI's Mini 5 Pro user manual:
- The default setting in DJI Fly is Emergency Only. The motors can only be stopped mid-flight when the drone detects an emergency, such as a collision, a stalled motor, rolling in the air, or being out of control while climbing or descending very quickly.
- To stop the motors, perform the same CSC used to start them (both sticks pulled down and to the inside or outside corners) and hold for two seconds.
- You can change the setting to Anytime in DJI Fly. DJI says to use that option with caution.
The same approach applies to other current DJI camera drones flown with sticks, like the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S. Check your model's manual.
DJI Avata 2
The Avata 2 depends on the controller:
- RC Motion 3: press the lock button four times to trigger Stop Motors Mid-flight. Emergency Propeller Stop is disabled by default, which means this only works in an emergency (collision, stalled motor, rolling, out of control). Turn it on in the goggles under Settings > Safety > Advanced Safety Settings to allow it any time.
- FPV Remote Controller 3, Normal or Sport mode: perform the CSC. The setting lives in the goggles under Settings > Safety > Advanced Safety Settings.
- FPV Remote Controller 3, Manual mode: press the start/stop button twice to stop the motors at any time.
More on Manual mode in Avata 2 manual mode.
Should you set it to Anytime?
For most pilots, no. Leave it on Emergency Only. With Anytime, a mistaken stick movement can drop your drone from the sky. Pilots who fly FPV close to people or obstacles sometimes prefer instant cutoff, but they practice it in a simulator first.
After an emergency stop
- Don't power the drone back on right away. Check the props, arms, gimbal and battery for damage.
- Swap any chipped or bent propellers. See how to change DJI propellers.
- Do a short hover test close to the ground.
- If you see motor or gimbal errors, read DJI motor and propeller errors or contact our repair team.
If you have DJI Care Refresh, crash damage is usually covered for a replacement fee. See DJI Care Refresh explained.
Shopping for a drone that's easy on beginners? The DJI Mini 5 Pro has omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and the DJI Avata 2 has built-in prop guards.
Related guides
- DJI gimbal protectors: when to use them (and when to take them off)
- What is DJI Fly beginner mode (and should you turn it off)?
- Which DJI drones have Remote ID built in?
- Do you need propeller guards on the DJI Avata 2?
- Do you need propeller guards on the DJI Mini 5 Pro?
- Best drone for boating, kayaking and water sports
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