The AAIB has revealed a report into an accident involving an VA-1X (G-EVTL), which suffered a compelled touchdown following energy unit failure, Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershire, 9 August 2023.
Synopsis
The plane was being flown by a distant pilot on a take a look at 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 masses generated by the blade launch triggered structural failure of the correct inboard pylon, leading to harm to the plane’s wiring harnesses. This triggered a lack of thrust from motors 4 and seven. While the plane’s flight management system was capable of preserve a degree angle, the excessive price of descent brought on by the lack of vertical thrust resulted in substantial harm 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 triggered the blade launch. The producer’s investigation recognized 36 product and course of enhancements ensuing from findings of the investigation.
