The parachute has been released since power-on

What ArduPilot says:

• Chute is released

A parachute release was triggered at some time since the flight controller started (“Parachute: Released” in the messages): by the switch, by a ground-station or mission command, by the loss-of-control check (more than 30° away from the wanted attitude for 1 s while losing height), or by sinking faster than CHUTE_CRT_SINK for more than 1 s. ArduPilot remembers that until it is rebooted and will not arm, because the parachute is out and cannot be released again.

What to do, most likely first

1. The release was tested on the bench, or the switch was moved by accident.

   CheckFind which RCn_OPTION is 22 (release) or 23 (three-position: off, enabled, release) and where that switch stands.

   FixRepack the parachute, put the release back, then reboot the flight controller.

2. It released by itself in flight, and you want to fly again.

   CheckIn the log, look at what came just before “Parachute: Released”: a loss-of-control error, or the sink rate against CHUTE_CRT_SINK.

   FixFind the reason in the log before the next flight; a reboot only clears the flag.

A release stops the motors first (unless CHUTE_OPTIONS bit 1 is set) and opens the parachute CHUTE_DELAY_MS later. Keep clear of the parachute and the props when testing.

Parameters to look at