What happened
On 18 March 2019, a DJI Matrice 210 was being operated for emergency services duties in the Lathbury Road area of Manchester. Following standard preparation, the pilot successfully launched the unmanned aircraft. However, once the aircraft reached an altitude of roughly 2 metres, the pilot released the control stick. Immediately following this action, the aircraft emitted a high-pitched noise and began to wobble. In an attempt to recover the aircraft and increase altitude, the pilot applied more power, but the drone continued to make a similar noise and began slewing sideways. The flight ended when the aircraft struck the ground in an inverted position, resulting in extensive damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. The AAIB examined the circumstances of the flight and the subsequent mechanical failure. The manufacturer performed a review of the flight data recorded by the aircraft to determine the sequence of events leading to the impact.