"Vortex Ring State" or "Settling with Power", is a dangerous condition that all rotorcraft pilots/operators should be aware of at all times. It occurs when a vortex ring system engulfs the rotor causing severe loss of lift. Essentially, the quadcopter falls to the ground very quickly in a very unstable wobble. Most operators I talk about this with have the same attitude. "This can't/won't happen to me."However, this is a very real danger that happens to even the most experienced pilots/operators. Do you remember when the U.S. military got Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan? They lost a helicopter, not to gunfire, but to VRS. Those were the most experienced helicopter pilots in the world's largest and most powerful military. They were from the prestigious 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment or commonly known as the Night Stalkers. If it can happen to them...it can surely happen to you.
VRS is mainly a threat when you have little to none forward airspeed. This means the danger zones are when you are hovering at altitude or coming to landing. You need all of the three "D's" to get into VRS. You should always have a mental count of how many of the "D's" you are doing at any given time. They are DESCENDING (Getting lower), DOWNWIND (The wind is moving the same way you are traveling or there is no significant wind), and DECELERATING (Getting slower or zero airspeed). Obviously, intentionally doing all three of the D's is not advised. In fact, it is downright stupid. Click HERE to watch a great Youtube example of a drone VRS crash. The operator crashes it right in front of the client...talk about embarrassing.
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