An electric aircraft accident case study – human factors analysis and lesson learned

Description

An electrically powered aircraft was conducting flight tests, under experimental flight rules when power to the electrical motors was lost. The two-person crew took 9 seconds to identify the failed system and attempt recovery actions which were unsuccessful and the pilot landed in a field adjacent to the airport resulting in severe damage to the aircraft. HFACs was used to identify causal and contributory factors and highlight key learning points. The results informed changes to UK CAA experimental flight rules related to flight test organisation, use of system controls, positioning of displays and the availability of alerts and warnings.

Period	28 Apr 2025 → 30 Apr 2025
Held at	Metallurgy and Materials
Degree of Recognition	International