What happened
On 26 August 2022, a professional drone pilot operating for TV 2 Luftfoto was conducting a practice flight at Bryggen in Bergen, Norway. The flight was intended to prepare for coverage of the World Triathlon Cup Bergen. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot lost control of the DJI Mavic 3 drone, registered LN-0203CM. The aircraft ceased responding to the pilot's manual stick commands and accelerated toward a nearby building, ultimately crashing through a third-floor window. The impact caused a broken window and resulted in one person sustaining minor injuries inside the room.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined flight logs, interviews with the pilot and operational manager, and data provided by the manufacturer. The investigation focused on why the aircraft stopped responding to the remote controller. Analysts reviewed GPS signal strength, compass headings, and control stick inputs. The investigation also highlighted significant difficulties in obtaining technical assistance and decrypted flight records from the manufacturer, DJI, noting that the process took ten months to complete.
Findings
- The loss of control was likely triggered by a technical malfunction occurring during the transition between ATTI (Attitude) mode and Tripod mode while the aircraft was experiencing inadequate GPS levels.
- The drone's flight records showed multiple warnings regarding weak GPS signals and the aircraft's inability to hover.
- The flight was not conducted in compliance with the requirements for the A2 open category.
- There is currently no regulatory mandate to force drone manufacturers to support safety investigations or provide decrypted data to authorities.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the NSIA issued three safety recommendations:
- The European Commission should implement legislation allowing for sanctions against manufacturers that fail to support safety investigations.
- The European Commission should mandate an authority to review DJI's drone systems to ensure they maintain necessary safety standards.
- The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Norway should inform national drone operators about a potential design flaw affecting the DJI Mavic 3 when exiting ATTI mode.