20260518005079I

UAS operations crew conducted a site survey and developed field boundaries for each of the 9 flight operations including separate takeoff and landing zones. The remote pilot in command (rpic) conducted a preflight of the UAS, found the aircraft airworthy and proceeded with a safety briefing of the operations crew members. Flight operations began at 10:19 am with completion of 3 flight operations. The crew prepared the aircraft for the 4th operation with the rpic finalizing the autonomous mission plan. It was determined by the rpic that manual control of the UAS would be performed around two sets of powerlines. Rpic performed the takeoff and manually maneuvered the UAS under the first set of powerlines without issue. The rpic determined with input from the visual observers the UAS can operate in autonomous mode to navigate the remaining set of powerlines. The rpic engaged autonomous flight mode and the aircraft traveled northward towards the powerline, the powerline pole and a truck. The UAS approached the pole and truck and properly detected both obstacles utilizing the collision avoidance systems. At approximately 30 feet from the pole, the UAS autonomously commanded a lateral maneuver left to navigate the pole and correct for terrain by detecting the truck as a feature of the ground. The resulting maneuver was a lateral movement to the left and an increase in altitude towards the powerlines. During the UAS avoidance maneuver the propeller struck the lowest hanging cable and severed a fiber line that damaged the propeller. The damage resulted in unstable flight and a loss of thrust. The UAS could not maintain altitude and experienced a rapid decent to the ground. The UAS impacted the ground resulting in two arms breaking off, the battery bay collapsed with multiple propellers broken. No post fire incident occurred. The batteries were secured, contact made to the powerline provider with notification made as required by the exemption condition and limitations.