Drone Manufacturer: Parrot
Drone Model: Anafi
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Type: Accident
Date: 2020-07-17
Applies: Nighttime
Pilot Qualifications: Unknown Status
Pilot Flight Experience: 40 Hours
Link to External Information About This submission: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fabcac1e90e075c5738a10f/Parrot_Anafi_170720_12-20.pdf
File Uploaded: parrot_anafi_170720_1220
Description
The operator was conducting a night search of roof tops. About 15 minutes after takeoff, when the UA was at about 50 agl, the pilot noticed the control screen flicker and heard the speed of the UA’s motors increase without any input from him. The UA then started to turn and, despite inputs from the pilot, was unresponsive. He attempted to descend the UA to conduct an emergency landing and then selected the ‘Return to Home’ function, but it did not respond. The UA then entered an uncontrolled descent onto the roof, where it came to rest.
The UA was recovered with damage to its two front left propellers and battery. There was also minor damage to the roof covering.
The pilot believed that, given the clean fractures on the propellers and the way the motors reacted, the UA had suffered a failure of the two propellers.
The AAIB published another reported failure of propellers on a Parrot Anafi in its 9/2020 Bulletin.
Reported Cause
Previously the operator would only replace damaged propellers but, as a result of the safety action taken in the published event, they will now also change the propellers every 5 hours flight time. They will also make a video recording of all pre- and post-flight safety checks.