Overview
Unit: LL-PTR-001 Subject: E99 Pro quadcopter Mass: 108g Date: 22 February 2026 Result: Complete disassembly, zero component damage
Background
This is LastLanding’s first pilot teardown — a proof-of-concept exercise to develop and validate our dismantling methodology at micro scale before progressing to larger aircraft.
The E99 Pro is a consumer-grade quadcopter weighing 108 grams. While far from a full-size aircraft, it contains the same fundamental component categories: structural elements, propulsion, avionics/electronics, wiring, and fasteners.
Process
The teardown followed a systematic top-down approach:
- Photographic documentation of the intact unit from all angles
- Propeller removal — 4x propellers, press-fit, removed by hand
- Shell separation — 4x Phillips screws securing upper/lower body
- Battery extraction — 3.7V LiPo, connector-based removal
- Camera module removal — ribbon cable disconnect
- Flight controller board extraction — 2x screws, 3 cable connectors
- Motor removal — 4x brushed DC motors, press-fit into frame mounts
- Wire harness separation — soldered connections documented before separation
- Final frame disassembly — landing gear, LED diffusers, antenna
Material Classification
| Category | Mass (g) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics (FC, camera, ESC) | 28 | 25.9% |
| Motors (4x brushed DC) | 24 | 22.2% |
| Structural (plastic frame) | 22 | 20.4% |
| Battery (LiPo) | 18 | 16.7% |
| Propellers (4x) | 8 | 7.4% |
| Wiring & connectors | 5 | 4.6% |
| Fasteners (screws) | 2 | 1.9% |
| Waste (labels, adhesive residue) | 1 | 0.9% |
Parts-to-scrap ratio: 99/1
Key Findings
- Zero damage during disassembly — all components recovered intact
- No specialized tools required — Phillips screwdriver and tweezers only
- Documentation overhead is significant — photography adds ~40% to process time, but is essential for methodology development
- Material sorting is straightforward at this scale — clear boundaries between component categories
Significance
This teardown achieved TRL 3 (Technology Readiness Level 3: Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept) for LastLanding’s dismantling methodology.
The 99/1 parts-to-scrap ratio, while measured at micro scale, aligns with industry benchmarks (98/2 per AELS/Derk-Jan van Heerden) for full-size aircraft dismantling.