Drone exam · Air safety

During setup, one battery is slightly swollen and warmer than the others even though it was not just charged. The client says the aircraft only needs to fly for three minutes. What should the pilot do with that battery, and why is the short flight time not a good reason to use it?

Answer

The pilot should remove the battery from service for that flight, keep it away from people and flammable material, and use only serviceable equipment if the mission can still be flown safely.

Explanation

A damaged or abnormal battery can fail early in the flight, not only near the end. Once the aircraft is airborne, the pilot may have little time and few safe landing options. Rejecting the battery before launch protects people, the aircraft, and the mission.