AAIB Record-only UAS investigations reviewed: February - March 2020
Published 14 May 2020
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| Date | Aircraft type | Location | Occurrence details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Oct 2019 | Vertical Aerospace HLD1 | Llanbedr Airfield, Gwynedd, Wales | During a test flight the prototype UA lost power and descended rapidly resulting in a hard landing. It sustained significant damage to the landing gear, chassis and some propeller blades. |
| 02 Dec 2019 | DJI Matrice M210 | Brittany Road, Hastings, East Sussex | A loss of data connection occurred between the UAS and the controller at a height of 50 m. The UAS descended to approximately 15 m and then became inverted and crashed onto the pavement in a congested area. |
| 03 Dec 2019 | Asc Tec F8 | New Cut Waterway, River Avon, Bristol | All eight motors shutdown at a height of 80 m and the UAS fell into the river and could not be recovered. The pilot’s display continued to show the UAS camera image and a battery voltage of 11.6 V as the UAS fell indicating that battery failure was unlikely to be the cause of the event. |
| 04 Dec 2019 | DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | Alwen Forest, Conwy | After a normal takeoff with the UAS pausing in a hover about 3 m above the ground, the pilot initiated a climb to 50 m. However, as it reached about 6 m, a GPS aerial failure occurred; the UAS inverted and flew into the ground. |
| 04 Dec 2019 | Bionic Eye T28 | Area North of ESSO Terminal - Avonmouth | During the approach to land, the UAS suffered a structural failure of one propeller arm which led to an uncontrolled descent to ground. |
| 15 Jan 2020 | Animal Dynamics Ltd Nano Vquad | Begbroke Science Park, Kidlington | During the maiden flight of the UAS, the pilot lost orientation from about 100 m range due to its small size. He tried to regain orientation but it drifted further away in the wind, so he slowly reduced power to land it out of line of sight. The UAS was not recovered. |
| 19 Jan 2020 | DJI Inspire | Ewhurst Park Tadley Hampshire | While photographing a boathouse, the UAV struck the branches of a tree and descended into a lake where it was lost. |
| 26 Jan 2020 | DJI Phantom 4 Pro | Ayr, South Ayrshire | The UAS struck the top branches of some trees before descending to the ground. |
| 13 Feb 2020 | DJI Inspire 1 Pro | Bentwaters Park, Ipswich, Suffolk | A rotor separated from the vehicle during flight causing an uncontrolled descent to ground. |
| 18 Feb 2020 | DJI Phantom | Gainsborough, Lincolnshire | The UAS struck a tree in ‘Point of Interest’ mode and fell to the ground. The UAS was damaged substantially but there was no other damage. |
| 05 Mar 2020 | Anafi Parrot | Beeston, Leeds | About 20 seconds after takeoff, the UAS suddenly dropped onto the concrete surface and damaged two propellor arms. |
Details of previous record-only investigations can be found on the Record-only investigations page.