Drone exam · UAS general knowledge

After similar flights in similar weather, one motor is consistently hotter than the others and the battery consumption is increasing. What might this indicate?

Answer

It can indicate extra friction, bearing wear, propeller damage, alignment problems, an ESC issue, or another source of excess load. The aircraft should be inspected rather than treating the temperature difference as normal.

Explanation

A developing propulsion fault may first appear as wasted energy and heat before it produces a clear warning or failure.