Clockwise Spin on Takeoff After GPS Replacement — Possible In-Flight Yaw Calibration Issue?

Hello. I recently finished assembling my quadcopter and completed the initial flight successfully. However, I had an issue with the GPS, so I replaced it and attempted another flight. As soon as the quadcopter took off, it began rotating clockwise, and the pilot accidentally switched to Loiter Mode instead of Stabilize Mode, which led to a crash.

Before the flight, we checked the compass orientation and performed all pre-flight inspections, and everything seemed normal. But immediately after takeoff, the aircraft started continuously accelerating into a clockwise spin. What could have caused this?

Our current assumptions are:

  1. The onboard sensors and compass appear to be functioning normally.

  2. The switch to Loiter Mode after the rotation was confirmed.

  3. In-flight yaw calibration may have been triggered while the transmitter’s yaw stick was deflected.

Could the problem have been that in-flight yaw calibration was applied while the yaw stick was not centered?

We would really appreciate help from experts. Thank you as always.

How did you happen to flash such old firmware? That’s ~3yrs old. Before troubleshooting anything, flash the latest Stable version. And then before even making a 1st flight follow a configuration and Tuning Process which wouldn’t start with default parameters.
Couple different paths to take:
Tuning Process Instructions
Methodic Configurator

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Follow @dkemxr’s instructions. I just want to add that the in-flight yaw alignment is normal and happens on every flight. The message is not a cause or a symptom of the crash.

Update:

The quad started to yaw (or at least correct for it) before the pilot made a control input. So have a good look for any mechanical or power issues. Also make sure the motors are in the right order, and the props are correctly mounted.

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