Independent report

AAIB Record-only UAS investigations reviewed: June - July 2021

Published 9 September 2021

Event Date Aircraft Type Location Occurrence Text
19 Dec 2020 Aeryon SkyRanger Surbiton, Surrey The battery latch became disconnected in flight resulting in a loss of power and control. Photographs of the UA at the accident site and data from the UAS manufacturer indicates that the most likely cause was that the battery had not been correctly latched prior to flight.
22 Mar 2021 DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dudley, West Midlands The UA was being flown in a disused quarry and the battery charge was 35% at takeoff. After about 4 minutes the UA automatically initiated a ‘Return-to-home’. It didn’t climb to its pre-programmed height of 80 m and collided with a tree at the top of the quarry, then fell 4 m to the ground.
06 May 2021 DJI M300 RTK New Malden, Surrey The UAS was being operated at night. Whilst manoeuvring to land the UA collided with some unseen telephone wires causing it to fall to the ground and collide with a parked car. There was substantial damage to the UA.
28 May 2021 MA Graupner Huskey 1800 Leatherhead, Surrey During a training flight the model aircraft lost power and veered off course towards a recycling centre. The instructor took control but the aircraft did not respond. It continued to lose height before it stalled and crashed into the public area of the recycling centre. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
29 May 2021 MA ASW28 RC Glider Near Higham, Northamptonshire After launch, when the model glider was at approx 80-90m, the operator tripped whilst walking forward and lost sight of it. The model aircraft had not been found at the time the occurrence was reported.
29 May 2021 Aeryon SkyRanger R60 Burnley, Lancashire After takeoff at approximately 1 m agl the UA moved without command, striking a wall and a parked car. Two propellers and mounting arms were damaged.
30 May 2021 DJI Phantom 4 Pro Llanhilleth, Blaenau Gwent The pilot reported that the video feed flashed and there was a series of warnings before the UA struck the ground. The right rear propeller was missing. The pilot stated that because of previous damage the propeller mounting had recently been replaced with a third-party version as the DJI manufactured unit could not be sourced.
03 Jun 2021 DJI Phantom 4 Barnham, Suffolk The four rotor UA lost a rotor during flight and fell through a tree. During replacement of all the rotors it was noticed that one appeared to lock in place with half a turn. However, by holding the motor and applying pressure to the rotor it became unlocked.
05 Jun 2021 MA Douglas Skyraider replica Alcester, Warwickshire Whilst performing a display of a radio controlled scale replica of a Douglas Skyraider aircraft involving ground based pyrotechnics, a sudden wind change caused the pilot to temporarily lose sight of the aircraft and it crashed. The incident occurred well away from any spectators.
07 Jun 2021 Mavic Pro 2 Congleton, Cheshire The UAS was being used for filming when the UA clipped a tree and fell to the ground.
09 Jun 2021 Custom aircraft Millbrooke, Bedfordshire The UAS was being used to record two moving road vehicles on a film set. After completing two successful rehearsals without the vehicles a third rehearsal was made with both vehicles. The pilot, who was positioned next to the roadside, was not aware that one of the vehicles had a large antenna fitted to the roof. He was unable to react in time and the UA struck the antenna and fell to the ground.
20 Jun 2021 DJI Mavic Enterprise Zoom West Overton, Wiltshire The UA was at about 3 m agl as the operator carried out the pre-task checks. Without warning the UA tilted and travelled forwards whilst descending at the same time. It then hit and damaged the operator’s car, before dropping to the ground. The battery detached and its casing split open. One of the arms and a rotor were also damaged. The operator suspected one of the motors had failed.
22 Jun 2021 DJI Phantom 4 V2 Perth, Perth and Kinross At a height of approximately 18 m, and at a distance of about 20 m from the operator, the UA reportedly lost all power and fell to the ground, sustaining extensive damage.
28 Jun 2021 Evolve Dynamics Skymantis Bedminster, Bristol The UA suffered a power loss and was seen to spiral to the ground. The power loss was likely caused by the incomplete insertion of the battery which then worked its way loose during the flight.
01 Jul 2021 DJI Mavic 2 Pro Woolwich, Greater London While being used to inspect the roof of a building, the UA struck the building and fell to the ground.
08 Jul 2021 MA Electric powered type unknown Amber Valley, Derbyshire After takeoff, the aircraft became uncontrollable in roll and it hit the ground in a nearby garden. The aircraft was destroyed.
11 Jul 2021 MA type unknown Bromsgrove, Worcestershire The wings separated from the fuselage while the aircraft was in a shallow dive to clear an updraft. The fuselage fell to the ground separately to the wings and was not found.
15 Jul 2021 Holy Stone HS100 Wells, Norfolk UAS became stuck in trees during flight and could not be recovered.