What happened
On the evening of 7 February 2022, a DJI Mavic 2 drone, registered as ZT-XJY, departed from the Crown Douglas Railway Station for a surveillance mission. The flight, conducted under favorable weather conditions with light winds, was intended to monitor the area around the Crown Douglas Substation in Mpumalanga Province.
Approximately 18 minutes into the flight, the pilot initiated a return-to-home (RTH) command when the aircraft was roughly 3.5 kilometres from the launch point. The pilot observed that the drone was traveling at a slower speed than usual and noted a rapid depletion of battery power. In an attempt to maintain visual contact and monitor the aircraft, the pilot traveled toward the drone's location in a light delivery vehicle. During this period, the drone began an uncommanded descent near high-tension power lines. Shortly thereafter, the command link was lost as the battery level dropped to approximately 6%. The aircraft disappeared from the pilot's display, and despite an extensive search by the pilot and security personnel throughout the night, the destroyed aircraft was never recovered.
The investigation
SACAA AIID reviewed the operational details and the pilot's credentials. The pilot held a valid Remote Pilot Licence (RPL) with a multi-rotor BVLOS rating and a current medical certificate. The operator possessed a valid Remote Operator Certificate (ROC), and the aircraft had undergone a maintenance inspection 17 flight hours prior to the incident. The investigation also noted that the operator had obtained permission from the landowner to fly over the area.
Findings
- The drone was being operated beyond its maximum rated flight distance.
- The flight was conducted at night and outside the pilot's line of sight.
- The aircraft may have collided with an obstacle during its return-to-home maneuver.
- The operation did not strictly adhere to the requirements for BVLOS operations as prescribed in CAR 2011 and SACATS Part 101.
Safety action
- Drone operators should perform comprehensive safety risk assessments for nighttime operations and specific areas of operation.
- The Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) is requested to evaluate the necessity of further safety measures for drone operations conducted at night or in areas where property damage or injury is possible.