What was found
PROBLEM: A ZIP DRONE RETURNED TO DOCK AT PEA RIDGE WITH A BROKEN PROPELLER AND BOOM ARM AFTER A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD ON APPROACH. IMPACT: ONE ZIP AT PEA RIDGE SUFFERED A BROKEN PROPELLER AND BOOM ARM (AFT LEFT). THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES, AND ALL PERSONNEL ARE SAFE. OPERATIONS WERE BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION OF BROADER SERVICE DISRUPTION. CAUSES: FIELD EVIDENCE AND TELEMETRY DATA INDICATE THE ZIP DRONE MOST LIKELY STRUCK A BIRD DURING ITS RETURN FLIGHT, LEADING TO THE PROPELLER BREAKING AND SUBSEQUENT BOOM ARM FAILURE. ALL PHYSICAL PIECES WERE RECOVERED, AND POSSIBLE BLOOD ON THE BLADE SUPPORTS THIS CONCLUSION. HOWEVER, NO BIRD REMAINS HAVE BEEN FOUND, AND ENGINEERING HAS NOTED THAT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WITH CERTAINTY IF THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A STRIKE OR PROP IMBALANCE. AIRCRAFT: ZIPLINE, P2ZIP