What happened
On October 19, 2021, at approximately 17:20 local time, a remote pilot was conducting an aerial surveillance flight from a parking lot belonging to a public institution in Puente Alto, Metropolitan Region. The operation involved a DJI Matrice 210 V2 unmanned aircraft (RPA).
During the initial ascent, the aircraft reached an altitude of 37 meters when it suddenly lost stability and began to spin uncontrollably. The operator attempted to regain control and deploy the onboard emergency parachute; however, the low altitude of the malfunction prevented the successful activation of the recovery system. The aircraft subsequently plummeted into a parked private vehicle, striking the windshield.
While the remote pilot remained uninjured, the impact resulted in significant damage to both the aircraft and the vehicle. The drone sustained structural damage, including detached rotor arms and broken motor supports, while the vehicle's windshield was shattered.
The investigation
DGAC Chile examined the wreckage and the operator's pre-flight procedures. The investigation confirmed that the operator held a valid remote pilot credential and that the aircraft met all technical requirements under local regulations (DAN 151), including having valid civil liability insurance and an active registration.
Technical analysis of the DJI Matrice 210 V2 wreckage revealed that the rear right rotor arm had fractured and a rotor blade had detached from the motor during flight. Although the operator performed a pre-flight inspection and found no visible obstacles or equipment issues, the specific defect in the propeller was not detected prior to takeoff.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control resulting from the fracture of a rotor and the subsequent detachment of a propeller blade.
- The operator's pre-flight inspection failed to identify the structural weakness or defect in the propeller that led to the failure.
- The low altitude at the time of the malfunction made it impossible to deploy the emergency parachute system effectively.