What happened
On 20 July 2021, a DJI Inspire 2 was being operated in Brighton, East Sussex, for a commercial aerial photography contract. The mission involved capturing footage around a tall tower belonging to a local seaside tourist attraction. The operator was positioned on the ground near the base of the structure, maintaining a direct line of sight with the unmanned aircraft.
The drone had successfully completed several passes around and above the tower, reaching altitudes of approximately 600 ft agl. Immediately after completing a top-down shot directly above the structure, the aircraft experienced a loss of link with the controller. Following this loss of communication, the drone descended out of the operator's view. Crucially, the aircraft failed to activate its programmed return-to-home fail-safe mechanism. The drone eventually landed on a platform known as a "crow's nest" at the top of the tower. The impact resulted in extensive damage to the propellers, camera gimbal, and airframe, though the tower itself remained undamaged.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the flight data and the circumstances surrounding the loss of control. The investigation established that the drone was responding normally to commands until the moment the link was severed. There were no recorded indications of propulsion system failure or a loss of power prior to the incident. The aircraft was recovered manually from the tower platform following the crash.