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| Date: | Thursday 19 May 2022 |
| Time: | |
| Type: | DJI Phantom 4 Pro |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | ZT-UKY |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Unknown |
| Location: | Pietermaritzburg -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
The Pilot/controller reported that he was on a survey flight and had completed 1 automated flight successfully. He then swapped the batteries and lifted the drone off for a second automated survey flight. With detail complete, he commanded the drone to return to base and after a few seconds heswitched to manual flight at approximately 250 above ground level (AGL). The pilot further stated that at 500m from base with the battery at 30%, the drone lost control and was later located in a tree. Thedrone was substantially damaged. Post-Accident Inspection: One of the battery cells failed in flight andthe drone plummeted from the sky and landed in the tree. ·Cause: One of the battery cells failed in flightand the drone plummeted from the sky and crashed in a tree.
Sources:
CAA S.A.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
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