The parachute was released

What ArduPilot says:

• Parachute: Released again
• Parachute: Released

The parachute release was commanded: the motors are stopped (unless CHUTE_OPTIONS bit 1 is set) and, CHUTE_DELAY_MS later, the release servo or relay fires. A copter releases by itself when its attitude is more than 30° from what was asked for 1 s while it loses height, or when it sinks faster than CHUTE_CRT_SINK for 1 s. A switch or a ground-station command releases it too, above CHUTE_ALT_MIN.

What to do, most likely first

1. It was a real emergency: a loss of control, a stall, or a failsafe set to release.

   FixRecover the aircraft and disconnect the battery. In the log, the lines right before the release say what set it off: a failsafe message, or a sink rate above CHUTE_CRT_SINK.

2. CHUTE_CRT_SINK is lower than the sink rate of a descent you fly on purpose.

   CheckCompare CHUTE_CRT_SINK (m/s) with the descent rate in the log right before the release.

   FixSet CHUTE_CRT_SINK clearly above the fastest descent you fly on purpose, and test it with the parachute's servo disconnected.

3. The release switch was moved by mistake.

   CheckA channel with RCn_OPTION 22 (release) or 23 (three-position parachute switch) changed right before the message.

   FixPut the release on a switch you cannot touch by accident, or use two: RCn_OPTION 21 (enable) on one and 22 (release) on another.

Parameters to look at