The AAIB has printed a report into an accident involving an VA-1X (G-EVTL), which suffered a pressured touchdown following energy unit failure, Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershire, 9 August 2023.
Synopsis
The plane was being flown by a distant pilot on a check flight at 30 ft agl when a propeller blade indifferent from the electrical propulsion unit 3 ahead motor as a consequence of a failure of the adhesive bond between the propeller blade sheath and spar. Giant out-of-balance hundreds generated by the blade launch brought on structural failure of the appropriate inboard pylon, leading to injury to the plane’s wiring harnesses. This brought on a lack of thrust from motors 4 and seven. While the plane’s flight management system was in a position to keep a degree angle, the excessive fee of descent attributable to the lack of vertical thrust resulted in substantial injury to the plane when it struck the bottom.
The plane producer was, on the time of the accident, within the strategy of introducing a blade design that, amongst different issues, eradicated the bonding failure mode that brought on the blade launch. The producer’s investigation recognized 36 product and course of enhancements ensuing from findings of the investigation.
