A data storage circuit includes a hard disk drive (HDD) and a fall sensor. The HDD includes a rotatable media platter operable to receive and store data; a read/write head operable to communicate with the media platter by writing data to the media platter and by reading the data from the media platter; an arm supporting the read/write head; a motor coupled to the arm and operable to move the arm to and from the media platter; a drive controller operable to control the media platter, the read/write head and the servo motor; a general purpose input/output (GPIO) terminal coupled to the drive controller; and a data interface terminal coupled to the drive controller. The fall sensor is communicatively coupled to the drive controller and is configured to send an interrupt trigger signal to the drive controller when the drive is falling. The interrupt trigger signal is sent via the GPIO terminal when the HDD is free fall sense enabled and the interrupt trigger signal is sent via the data interface terminal when the HDD is not free fall sense enabled.