A system provided for protecting a disk drive from impact damages. More
specifically, a disk drive is provided that includes an accelerometer
interconnected to a printed circuit board that detects free fall of the
disk drive. In addition, the velocity of spinning disks of the disk drive
is also monitored to assess changes in velocity thereof that may indicate
the presence of a tumbling condition. Furthermore, the change in
acceleration measured by the accelerometer is monitored to prevent false
indications of free fall due to common vibrations. Thus an enhanced
system is provided that protects disk drives from the effect of free
falls under a wide variety of conditions and allowing for drops from
shorter distances to be identified.