# Accident 20240220009159A: Apellix B-1, Orlando, FL, February 20, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 20, 2024, 15:30 local time
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Location: 28.5383° N, 81.3792° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orlando, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5383&lon=-81.3792&mi=10
- Aircraft: 7WLTR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: APELLIX B-1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 285 total, 15 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240220009159A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT WAS TAKING OFF (2-3 FEET OFF THE GROUND) WHEN THE DRONE BEGAN TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. ALL INPUTS FROM THE REMOTE CONTROLLER (RC) WERE NOT RESPONDING. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DISARM THE ROTORS BY BRINGING BOTH STICKS ON THE RC DOWN AND IN TOWARDS EACH OTHER. THE MANUFACTURER (APELLIX) STATED THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO DISARM THE DRONE (THIS WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY TESTED). AFTER REALIZING THE DRONE WAS NOT GOING TO RESPOND AND THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE CAMPUS, THE PILOT GRABBED THE DRONE AND MANUALLY UNPLUGED THE BATTERY, DISARMING THE ROTORS. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND WOUNDS ALL OVER THEIR BODY, IN ADDITION TO RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY ON THEIR PINKY THAT RESULTED IN LOSING THE TIP OF THEIR FINGER. THE DRONE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND WAS RENDERED UNFLYABLE.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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