Autel Evo Start The Motor First: Troubleshooting a Failed Motor

One of the four motors on an Autel Evo drone failed to start, accompanied by a puff of smoke. The other three motors functioned normally. The drone failed to restart, and a single light on the battery flashed continuously. This occurred with two separate, fully charged batteries. The issue persisted even after switching to a known good battery. The drone is out of warranty. This failure points towards a potential Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) or motor malfunction. The question is whether the ESC is integrated into the main flight control board, requiring a full board replacement, or if the motor can be replaced individually. Knowing how Autel handles these repairs and the potential costs will help determine if pursuing a fix is worthwhile.