What happened
On 2 February 2023, a DJI AgrAS T30 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), registration ZT-XSR, was being utilized for crop-spraying duties at Pongola Farm in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The operation was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions in accordance with Part 101 regulations.
During the mission, the pilot launched the aircraft to an altitude of 15 metres above ground level. While performing the spraying task, the drone struck an electrical power line located at the far edge of the spray field. The impact caused the aircraft to become entangled on the wire. The electrical current from the live line ignited a fire on the aircraft; after an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve the drone, the burning RPA eventually fell to the ground. The pilot was able to use a fire extinguisher from a nearby support vehicle to suppress the flames.
The investigation
The investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the pilot had identified one power line near the farm entrance but was unaware of the second line situated at the edge of the field. Post-accident inspections of the DJI Agras T30 revealed substantial damage to the rotors, arms, and landing gear, directly resulting from the contact with the live wire and the subsequent fire.
Investigators reviewed the operator's procedures, which require pilots to physically walk the boundaries of a field to establish waypoints. It was determined that the pilot had not performed the required site assessment or hazard identification protocols prior to the flight.