Investigators say man injured when drone propeller fell while mowing lawn – The Irish Times

A man was injured when a drone propeller fell on him in Dublin, air crash investigators report.

The incident occurred in July 2022 during an urban flight of the Manna unmanned drone delivery company.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit released a report on the incident on Friday.

It was stated that the propeller blade separated from the drone during the flight, causing serious vibrations and subsequent failure of the electric motor.

This triggered the onboard flight termination system and the deployment of the emergency parachute. The drone crashed into the ground with minor damage.

Meanwhile, the broken fan blade hit a man lying on the ground.

The man told investigators he was mowing the lawn in his backyard when he was struck by what he believed was part of the drone’s propeller.

He stated that he did not notice anything unusual before the crash due to the sound emanating from the lawnmower. He said he had a small cut on his head but did not require stitches or hospitalization.

( ‘We had 40 flights before 2pm’: West Dublin couple disturbed by delivery drones flying over their homeOpens in new window )

The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was fatigue fracture of a bolt securing the propeller blade, which caused the blade to separate from the drone.

The drone did not have an airworthiness certificate, but it was not required to have one.

The report stated that the remote control pilot was not issued a Practical Assessment Completion Certificate until after the accident.

The drone crashed into the ground in a public park, causing some damage. AAIU was not properly notified about the accident.

The propeller manufacturer stated that the polymer propeller used in the drone should not be used in a coaxial configuration. Manna then redesigned the propeller hub.

Manna has also committed to moving from the current coaxial configuration to a new design consisting of a single propeller mounted on each arm.

Manna said he appreciated the AAIU report, saying the incident was a “controlled landing” and not an accident.

The company’s website says drone deliveries are a “safer” alternative to delivery drivers because it results in fewer vehicles on the roads and fewer accidents.

The following statements were made in the statement: “The report emphasizes that this incident is a unique, singular event. We are pleased to report that we have had no issues with propeller integrity since the incident two years ago.

“Following the incident, our company quickly implemented design and procedural changes to further enhance the safety and reliability of our operations.”

He added that the aircraft’s Flight Termination System activated as intended, deploying the emergency parachute to ensure a safe landing after the propeller failure. This system is designed specifically to prioritize the safety of people on the ground and to reduce risks that may occur during an unexpected event.

“Our priority remains the safe and reliable delivery of goods to our customers and we continue to work closely with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to meet all regulatory standards.” – P.A.