What happened
On 28 June 2022, a DJI Phantom 4 Pro (registration ZT-UKZ) was being operated for an aerial survey at Groote Schuur Hospital in the Western Cape. The mission was being conducted under Part 101 regulations in visual line of sight. After an initial flight where the pilot briefly lost visual contact with the aircraft while it was over the hospital, a second flight was launched with 90% battery capacity.
During this second mission, the pilot experienced intermittent camera feeds, potentially due to signal interference. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the controller issued a low battery voltage warning indicating 30% remaining power. Shortly thereafter, the video feed and the command and control link were lost. The pilot, unable to re-establish a connection, believed the aircraft had crashed. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro was later recovered on a hospital road with 28% battery remaining. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's body, landing gear, camera, and gimbal mount, though no injuries to people on the ground were reported.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Remote Pilot Licence with the necessary multirotor and VLOS endorsements. The aircraft's maintenance records showed a recent inspection in May 2022, and the operator held a valid Letter of Approval and Operating Certificate. The investigation focused on the sudden severance of the communication link between the ground station and the aircraft.