AAIB investigation to DJI Matrice 300 RTK, (UAS registration n/a)

Rotor failure, Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, Manchester, 3 August 2021.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 10 February 2022

• Category: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
• Report type: Bulletin - Correspondence investigation
• Date of occurrence: 3 August 2021
• Aircraft type: DJI Matrice 300 RTK
• Location: Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, Manchester
• Registration: n/a

Summary:

The DJI Matrice 300 RTK was being operated at night in support of RFFS operations to locate a missing person. After approximately nine minutes and 28 seconds of flight, when at a height of 63 metres, the pilot and observer heard an audible “bang or pop.” The UA initiated a three-rotor emergency landing sequence, flying in a rapidly descending arc until it struck the ground. The aircraft was destroyed. Examination of the UA and review of the log file by the UAS manufacturer identified that the left rear frame arm folded back during the flight and struck the motor. This resulted in failure of the rotor, triggering the emergency landing mode. The UAS manufacturer considered there was a high likelihood that the locking collar at the junction of the frame arm had not been fully tightened, causing the rotor arm to fold back in flight.

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DJI Matrice 300 RTK, UAS reg n/a 02-22

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Glossary of abbreviations

Published 10 February 2022