AAIB Record-only UAS investigations reviewed: August - September 2023
Published 9 November 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
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This section provides details of accidents and incidents which were not subject to a Field or full Correspondence Investigation. They are wholly, or largely, based on information provided by the aircraft commander at the time of reporting and in some cases additional information from other sources. The accuracy of the information provided cannot be assured.
| Event Date | Aircraft Type | Location Name | Record Only Occurrence Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 August 2023 | DJI Mavic 2 | Yoxford, Suffolk | The remote pilot was operating with visual line of sight with a colleague as observer when the UA collided with a tree at a height of approximately 5 metres. The UA fell to the ground with damage to the rotors. |
| 09 August 2023 | Windracers Ultra-UAS, G-WNDA | Thorney Island, West Sussex | A trainee remote pilot under instruction was practising touch-and-go’s on Runway 29. During one landing the aircraft touched down on its nose wheel and the nose wheel became dislodged from the wheel hub. The aircraft climbed away and during the subsequent landing the aircraft drifted left and the right wingtip made contact with the runway. |
| 12 August 2023 | Model Aircraft Mitsubishi A6M Zero | Elvington Airfield, North Yorkshire | During a forced landing after engine failure, the model aircraft was caught by a gust of wind and it fell to the ground. |
| 17 August 2023 | DJI M300 | Strathaven, South Lanarkshire | The UAS was carrying out a survey of a castle, which was closed to the public, and had completed two successful flights. Two minutes into the third flight the remote pilot received a ‘strong interference detected’ warning. The UA subsequently struck the castle. |
| 21 August 2023 | DJI Inspire 1 | Sennybridge, Powys | Following successful pre-flight checks, the UA took off. However, at a height of about 10 m, it reported a ‘battery critical, land immediately’ warning and fell to the ground where it suffered substantial damage. |
| 03 September 2023 | Model Aircraft Airworld Hawk | Pontefract, West Yorkshire | The model jet aircraft lost elevator control. It flew into a field, struck the ground and was destroyed. |
| 05 September 2023 | Model Aircraft E-Flite Evolution | Telford, Shropshire | The model aircraft flew beyond visual line of sight at 100 ft height and 200 ft distance, and was not recovered. |
| 07 September 2023 | DJI Inspire 2 | Northolt, London | The controller lost link to the UA 20 seconds into the flight. The UA subsequently flew beyond visual line of sight and was not found. |
| 07 September 2023 | DJI Mavic Enterprise 2 | Chacewater, Cornwall | Whilst recording footage the UA was manoeuvring at head height along a road with overhead cables. The road dipped downhill and the operator had not realised that the UA had climbed relative to the wires, which it hit and subsequently fell to the ground. |
| 28 September 2023 | DJI Air 2S | Bourn Airfield, Cambridgeshire | The UA was being flown 40 m from the remote operator and at a height of 15 m when it suddenly lost lift and dropped to the ground. The cause of the loss of power was not determined. |
| 30 September 2023 | Model Aircraft FMS Skytrainer | Near Battlesbridge, Essex | The control link to the model aircraft was lost and the aircraft flew into the ground. It was not recovered. |