Holy Stone HS720 Not Turning On After Crash: What Usually Fails
If your Holy Stone HS720 is not turning on after a crash, the problem is often mechanical, electrical, or both.
A hard impact can disconnect internal wiring, damage the battery, jam the motors, or trigger a protection mode that prevents startup.
The HS720 is a GPS-equipped foldable drone with brushless motors, so even a minor crash can affect the power path from battery to flight controller.
The good news is that many no-power issues can be diagnosed at home before you assume the drone is permanently damaged.
First Checks Before You Open Anything
Start with the simplest possibilities.
A drone that looks dead after a crash may only have a depleted battery, a loose connection, or an improperly seated power pack.
- Remove the battery and inspect it for swelling, dents, heat damage, or smell.
- Reinsert the battery firmly and confirm the latch is fully engaged.
- Try a different fully charged battery if you have one.
- Check whether the charger and charging cable are working normally.
- Inspect the drone body for cracks near the battery compartment, arms, and landing gear.
If the battery LEDs do not light up during charging, the battery itself may be damaged or the charger may be faulty.
If the battery powers the charger but the drone remains completely unresponsive, the issue is likely inside the aircraft.
Why a Crash Can Stop the HS720 From Powering On
A crash can interrupt several critical systems at once.
Understanding the likely failure points helps narrow the diagnosis faster.
Battery or connector damage
The HS720 depends on a secure battery connection.
A violent landing can loosen the plug, damage the battery terminals, or crack the battery housing enough to break contact.
Power board or wiring fault
Internal wiring may shift after impact.
If a connector pulls free from the power distribution board or flight controller, the drone may appear completely dead even if the battery is charged.
Motor or arm obstruction
Broken propellers, bent motor shafts, or debris inside the motor can prevent proper startup.
Some drones will not arm if the system detects a serious motor problem.
Flight controller protection mode
Modern drones often include electronic safeguards.
A crash can trigger abnormal voltage or sensor readings, causing the controller to refuse initialization until the fault is cleared.
Hidden structural damage
Hairline cracks in the frame can pinch wires or shift electronics out of alignment.
On a foldable model like the Holy Stone HS720, even a small crack around a hinge can create intermittent power loss.
How to Troubleshoot the Holy Stone HS720 Safely
Work through the drone methodically.
Avoid repeated power attempts if you suspect battery damage, as this can worsen an electrical fault.
1. Inspect the battery and contacts
Remove the battery and check the metal contacts on both the battery and drone.
Look for bending, corrosion, soot, or looseness.
If the contacts appear dirty, gently clean them with a dry microfiber cloth or a cotton swab with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol, then let everything dry fully.
2. Test a known-good battery
If another HS720 battery is available, fully charge it and test it in the drone.
A working battery can quickly reveal whether the original pack is the problem.
3. Confirm the charger output
Make sure the charger’s indicator lights behave as expected.
If the battery never shows any charge indication, the issue may be with the charger, cable, USB power source, or the battery’s internal protection circuit.
4. Examine propellers and motors
Spin each motor gently by hand with the battery removed.
Motors should move smoothly without grinding or sticking.
Check whether any propeller is bent, cracked, or jammed against the frame.
Replace damaged propellers immediately.
5. Look for frame or arm damage
Fold each arm in and out to see whether the hinges are intact.
If an arm is twisted, cracked, or misaligned, it may be pressing on internal wiring.
Do not force a damaged arm back into place.
6. Listen for signs of life
When you install a charged battery and press the power button, note whether there are any LEDs, beeps, motor twitches, or controller pairing responses.
Even a brief flash can help identify whether power reaches the flight controller.
Common Symptoms and What They Mean
Different symptoms point to different failures.
Use this quick reference to narrow the cause of the Holy Stone HS720 not turning on after crash problem.
- No lights, no sound: Battery is dead, disconnected, or the power path is broken.
- Battery lights on, drone dead: Internal connector, power board, or flight controller damage.
- Lights on but motors do not start: Arm sensor issue, motor damage, or safety lockout.
- Intermittent power: Loose connector, cracked solder joint, or frame flexing on a damaged cable.
- Drone powers briefly then shuts off: Battery protection circuit, short circuit, or damaged electronics.
When the Problem Is the Battery
Lithium polymer batteries are particularly vulnerable after impact.
A pack may look normal but still fail internally if the cells are separated, punctured, or stressed.
Replace the battery if you notice swelling, heat, unusual odor, leakage, or physical deformation.
Never charge or use a visibly damaged LiPo battery.
If the battery protection circuit has tripped, some packs can be revived by following the manufacturer’s charging procedure, but a battery that repeatedly fails is not worth relying on.
When the Problem Is Internal Damage
If basic battery checks do not restore power, the issue may be inside the aircraft.
This is more likely when the crash involved a high-speed impact, a drop onto concrete, or a collision that snapped a propeller or arm.
Signs of internal damage include loose components rattling inside the shell, a strong burnt smell, visible board damage, or a battery compartment that no longer holds the pack securely.
In these cases, inspection by a qualified drone repair technician is often the safest option.
What Not to Do After a Crash
A careful approach matters because repeated failed start attempts can turn a repairable issue into permanent damage.
- Do not keep pressing the power button repeatedly if the drone shows no response.
- Do not charge a swollen or punctured battery.
- Do not force cracked arms or bent motors back into alignment.
- Do not fly the drone again until the frame and motors are checked.
- Do not use water or liquid cleaners near the flight controller or battery compartment.
Preventing the Same Problem on the Next Flight
Once the HS720 is repaired or replaced, reduce the chance of another post-crash no-power issue by tightening your preflight routine.
Check battery health before each flight, keep propellers in good condition, and inspect the frame after every hard landing.
Use open areas while testing a drone after repair, and make the first flight short.
If the aircraft powers on normally but behaves unpredictably, land immediately and recheck the motor arms, propellers, and battery seating before flying again.
For pilots who fly regularly, keeping a spare battery, a set of propellers, and a charger in known-good condition can make troubleshooting much faster.
That small preparation often turns a frustrating failure into a quick recovery.