Drone Manufacturer: UAVE
Drone Model: Prion Mk 3
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Type: Accident
Date: 2019-11-18
Applies: Daytime
Pilot Qualifications: Unknown Status
Pilot Flight Experience: 50 Hours
Link to External Information About This submission: https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib-investigation-to-uave-prion-mk-3-uas-registration-n-a-181119
File Uploaded: uave_prion_mk_3_na_181119_0520
Description
During an autonomous landing at a secure airfield without public access, the UAS was in a left turn to line up on the final approach path. The autopilot was programmed to control airspeed with power and glideslope with pitch, so when the UAS started to accelerate and descend below the predetermined descent profile, the power reduced to slow it and elevator was used to pitch the UAS up. However, there was a limit to the amount of elevator the autopilot could command, which was insufficient to return the UAS back to the desired altitude, resulting in it flying into the ground just short of the runway.
Reported Cause
Following an investigation by the manufacturer (and operator) of the UAS, the autopilot’s elevator authority has been increased, and the pre-programmed turn onto finals widened and raised to reduce the amount of elevator required during the approach to land.