DJI Mavic 2 Zoom drone vs Aerospatiale AS350BA during off-road truck race near Johnson Valley, CA
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- On February 6, 2020, about 1200 Pacific standard time (PST) an Airbus AS 350BA helicopter, N611TC, and a Dai-Jiang Innovations (DJI) Mavic 2 Zoom small unmanned aircraft (sUAS, or drone), registration FA37NAYXP9, collided in flight while both aircraft were filming an off-road truck race near Johnson Valley, California. The helicopter received minor damage to the right side of the windscreen and the sUAS was substantially damaged. There were no injuries. The helicopter was operated by Icon Helicopters under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 and an FAA Certificate of Authorization or Waiver to 14 CFR 91.119(b) and (c). The sUAS was operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 107. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The helicopter was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with an FAA certificate of authorization or waiver to 91.119 (minimum altitudes) to provide videography of an off-road race, under visual flight rules, within Class G airspace in a remote and unpopulated area. The small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 107, for the same purpose.
The sUAS pilot knew helicopters were operating in close proximity to his position as he was closely following one of the race competitors. Review of video logs indicate the incident helicopter was clearly in view in the sUAS telemetry, however, the remote pilot continued to follow the race vehicle. The remote pilot did not use the service of a visual observer to assist with avoidance of other air traffic.
The helicopter pilot avoided the sUAS, and assumed he was far enough away, when he returned to the racecourse. The sUAS, continuing to follow the racecourse, struck the helicopter on the right side of the windscreen.
Maps of the race layout were provided to the helicopter pilots, but not the sUAS remote pilots, who were also not included in a pre-race organizational meeting for the helicopter pilots. Locations of the remote pilots on the maps were for general orientation, and there was no procedure to provide any sort of separation between the helicopters and sUAS, nor were the sUAS pilots monitoring the helicopter air-to-air frequency.
14 CFR 107.37 Operation near aircraft; right-of-way rules. States that
(a) Each small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft,
and
(b) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard.
The nature of the race videography brings the aircraft into close proximity with each other. There did not appear to be an appreciation by the race organizers or the sUAS remote pilot of the significance of the sUAS operations as a collision risk to be mitigated. Such tools as defined operating areas, the use of visual observer(s), and/or specified wave-off criteria could have been used to help reduce the risk. Although the race organizers could have provided such an operating framework, it is also incumbent on the certificated remote pilot in command to understand the risks of this operation.
Probable Cause: the failure of the small UAS remote pilot to give way to the helicopter, resulting in an inflight collision. Contributing to the incident was the sUAS remote pilot's failure to assess and mitigate the risks of operations in close proximity to other aircraft. Also contributing to the incident was the lack of inclusion of the sUAS operations as a part of the aviation activity and risk mitigation.
- Report:
data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/ap...
- Docket:
data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectI...
Drones are being used a lot more for great coverage of dirt bike racing and even stuff around the pits in MotoGP and F1. I've also seen some drone coverage of the Belgian Spring Classics bicycle races. There obviously needs to be coordination with helicopter pilots, easiest to specify a minimum height above ground for the latter.
There’s no longer a need for helicopters to be following sports vehicles so close to the ground. Today’s drones are capable of streaming live, hi res, video with very little latency. No reason to put helicopters and flight crew at such risk anymore.
Fixing the scratch or crack on the helicopter's window will cost a lot more than a new drone. A Spotter or a 2nd wide angle camera on the drone, or both, would have been a great help. Hope that the drone operator either can afford the helicopter repair, or has insurance for that.
Looks to me like chopper pilot flew away from drone then back around and flew into the drone.
Look again! @ 0:50 it is quite clear that the drone flew into the side of the helicopter!
From a former helicopter pilot: the chopper pilot didn't even see the drone. Sometimes it's very hard to find a real plane even being informed by ATC of its flight path, so a drone while trying in the same time to follow the race car. No chance
Adam DAN & CHRISTY sent me over, hoping that lots of other viewers come too and subscribe!
Who is the idiot who planned this. Clearly a case of poor planning.
Was blame assigned?
According to the regulations (posted in the video) the drone (sUAS) is always responsible.
Probable Cause: the failure of the small UAS remote pilot to give way to the helicopter, resulting in an inflight collision. Contributing to the incident was the sUAS remote pilot's failure to assess and mitigate the risks of operations in close proximity to other aircraft. Also contributing to the incident was the lack of inclusion of the sUAS operations as a part of the aviation activity and risk mitigation.
oooops
Helicopter 1 - 0 Drone
Helicopter shouldn't be flying below 500ft AGL.
Wrong. Read the included waiver.