Independent report

AAIB Record-only UAS investigations reviewed: October - November 2020

Published 14 January 2021

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aaib-record-only-uas-investigations-reviewed-october-november-2020/aaib-record-only-uas-investigations-reviewed-october-november-2020

Event Date UAS Type Location Record Only Occurrence Text
28 Jul 2020 Yuneec Typhoon H520 Faringdon, Oxfordshire During the flight, the UA became erratic and descended. The operator activated the return to land function and the UA landed without further incident. The UK agent has identified that the issue was caused by the battery which had developed a high level of internal resistance.
       
13 Sep 2020 DJI Matrice 210 V2 Bath Racecourse, Somerset At the end of an otherwise normal flight the UA fell onto grass from 21 ft causing substantial damage.
15 Sep 2020 Raptor X4 Stranraer, Wigtownshire The UAS was being operated at sea when it entered a spiral dive and dropped into the sea. One of the four speed controllers was believed to have failed. The UA was not recovered.
18 Sep 2020 Mavic Pro Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire The UAS reported compass and Inertial Measurement Unit errors, and drifted off course. It struck a tree and fell to the ground. It could not be located.
24 Sep 2020 Evolve Dynamics Skymantis Dundry, Somerset At a height of 15 m the UAS suffered a propulsion failure and fell to the ground, there were no injuries. The manufacturer traced the cause of the power loss to a faulty crimp connection on a signal wire to an electronic speed controller. The manufacturer is addressing the quality issue with the third-party cable supplier.
29 Sep 2020 Intel Falcon 8+ Rough Field, North Sea Whilst undertaking an inspection of the underdeck of North Sea platform the UA lost its link with the controller. The UA landed in the sea and was not recovered.
07 Nov 2020 DJI Inspire 2 Anglesey The UA became entangled in a suspended telephone cable which the UA pilot had not seen. To allow recovery of the UA the pilot switched off the UA’s motors allowing it to fall to the ground. The UA was severely damaged when it struck the ground.
10 Nov 2020 Parrot Anafi Brighouse, West Yorkshire During night operations the UA lost power and collided into trees. The UA was not recovered.
17 Nov 2020 Sky Mantis Grantham, Lincolnshire Approximately 15 minutes into the flight the UA performed an uncommanded tumble without warning. It was located in a rural area and was substantially damaged.
19 Nov 2020 Phantom 4 Pro Quadcopter Colchester, Essex The UA suddenly dropped to the ground during an aerial photography flight. It was substantially damaged.
Back to top