Question

During your preflight inspection, you discover that the casing of your sUAS battery has expanded beyond its normal dimensions. What action should you take?

1) Throw it away with your household trash
2) Use it as long as it will still hold a charge
3) Follow the manufacturer's guidance

Answer 1

If the sUAS battery casing has expanded, do not use it; instead, follow the manufacturer's guidance for proper disposal or recycling. Swollen batteries are hazardous and cannot be disposed of with regular household trash or used safely.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you discover that the casing of your sUAS battery has expanded beyond its normal dimensions during a preflight inspection, you should not use the battery under any circumstances. Swollen or expanded batteries can be a sign of dangerous internal problems such as overcharging, short-circuiting, or a failure within the battery cells, which could result in a fire or explosion if used.

The correct and safe action is to follow the manufacturer's guidance on how to properly dispose of or recycle the battery. Manufacturers typically provide specific instructions for dealing with expanded or damaged batteries to avoid environmental harm and safety risks. The battery should never be disposed of with household trash, due to the toxic and hazardous materials contained within most batteries. Nor should you continue to use the battery, as it is unsafe and could potentially cause harm to you or damage to the equipment.