AAIB investigation to UAS Schiebel Camcopter (UAS, registration n/a)

Loss of control on takeoff from ship stationed off the coast of Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, 18 October 2016.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 9 June 2017

• Category: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
• Report type: Bulletin - Correspondence investigation
• Date of occurrence: 18 October 2016
• Aircraft type: UAS Schiebel Camcopter S-100
• Location: Ship stationed off the coast of Benbecula, Outer Hebrides
• Registration: UAS 232

Summary:

As the unmanned aircraft (UA) lifted off from the ship’s helideck it immediately pitched up and transited rearwards with insufficient height to clear the 19-cm high gunwale about 2 m behind it. The impact damaged the UA tail structure, leading to a failure of the tail rotor transmission and resulting in the UA spiralling into the sea alongside the ship.

Following an investigation by the manufacturer software changes have been made to reduce operator workload during the takeoff.

Download report:

UAS Schiebel Camcopter S-100, UAS 232 06-17

Download glossary of abbreviations:

Glossary of abbreviations

Published 9 June 2017