News story

AAIB Report: DJI Phantom 4 RTK, UAS lost power and dropped to the ground, Newtongrange, Midlothian

A DJI Phantom 4 RTK unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was being operated in an automated flight mode when one of the four propellers detached whilst in-flight. The aircraft rapidly descended and struck the ground. No one was injured, 2 Dec 2020.

Aircraft after being recovered from garden

The UAS, a DJI Phantom 4 RTK, was being operated in an automated flight mode to survey a railway track and surrounding infrastructure when one of the four propellers detached whilst in-flight. The aircraft rapidly descended from a height of 70 m (230 ft) where it struck the ground in the rear garden of a house. No one was injured.

This investigation has reviewed the new UAS regulations introduced on 31 December 2020 concerning the safe overflight of people and data available to assist in risk assessments.

Two Safety Recommendations are made to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Read the report.

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Published 20 May 2021