What happened
On 19 July 2022, a commercial filming operation was taking place at Morlais Quarry in Mid Glamorgan. The mission involved a DJI Inspire 2 performing a tracking shot of a large group of actors and horses. The flight plan required the unmanned aircraft to hover at a low altitude and fly backwards as the group ran toward the aircraft, before the group split into two separate paths to bypass the drone.
Prior to the flight, the remote pilot conducted a safety briefing with the production staff, crew, and actors. During the third sequence of the day, the aircraft was positioned in a location acknowledged by the assistant director. As the filming commenced, approximately 50 actors and horses approached the drone. While the group was intended to split around the aircraft, one actor deviated from the briefed path, cutting across the flight path of the drone. This movement caused the actor to collide with one of the propellers, which struck the back of his neck. The pilot immediately moved the aircraft away, and filming was halted so the actor could receive medical treatment for his superficial injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the safety protocols and the regulatory framework in place at the time of the incident. It was noted that the transition between filming sequences occurred rapidly, leaving insufficient time to land the aircraft and install propeller bumpers, which could have mitigated the impact.
The investigation also reviewed the CAA CAP722 guidance regarding "involved persons." While the guidance suggested that operators should obtain explicit consent and ensure participants understand the risks, the investigators found the process for obtaining such consent from a large group of over 50 people to be ambiguous and difficult to implement practically. Furthermore, while the operator's risk assessment covered many known hazards, the specific event of an actor deviating from a pre-planned route was not identified as a foreseeable risk.
Findings
- The primary cause of the contact was an actor deviating from the briefed path and running into the flight path of the drone.
- The rapid transition between filming segments prevented the installation of propeller guards.
- The existing risk assessment did not account for the possibility of participants moving unexpectedly from their assigned routes.
- There was a lack of clarity in the regulatory guidance regarding the necessity of obtaining explicit consent from large groups of involved persons.