CAAS Completes Investigation Into Unmanned Aircraft Incident

Commercial unmanned aircraft operator to be charged in court 

         The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has completed its investigation into an unmanned aircraft (UA) incident where a UA crash-landed at One-North Residences in July 2024. 

Findings of Investigation

2          On 19 July 2024, H3 Dynamics, a commercial UA operator, was carrying out a series of UA test flights from PIXEL building located in the One-North drone estate using a Hexadrone TUNDRA 2. At about 1800 hours, during the eighth test flight, the UA pilots lost control of the UA shortly after take-off. The UA hit the façade of a building at One-North Residences approximately 200m from the take-off location and crash-landed. A fire ensued which was quickly put out by residents. This resulted in damage to the UA and burn marks on the floor. No injuries were reported.

3          CAAS commenced an investigation into the incident and suspended the operations of H3 Dynamics and the use of Hexadrone TUNDRA 2 while the investigation was ongoing. CAAS has since completed the investigation. The key findings of CAAS’ investigation are as follows: 

• H3 Dynamics did not comply with some of the procedures stipulated in their operations manual submitted to CAAS during their application for an operator permit.
  

• The Hexadrone TUNDRA 2 UA involved in the incident was modified by H3 Dynamics. The modification was not made known to nor approved by CAAS.
  

• One of the H3 Dynamics staff who operated the UA flight did not possess a UA pilot licence as required by the Air Navigation (101 – Unmanned Aircraft Operations) Regulations (“ANR-101”).
  

• H3 Dynamics staff did not comply with Centralised Flight Management System (CFMS) procedures as required by the ANR-101; the CFMS serves to alert the UA operator permit holder and CAAS when the UA strays outside its approved flight area.
  

• The Hexadrone TUNDRA 2 base model had no safety issues. 

Enforcement Actions

4        CAAS takes a serious view of the contraventions and will take the following enforcement actions:

• H3 Dynamics will be charged in court for the offence of operating the UA in a manner that it ought reasonably to know could endanger the life or property of another person under the Air Navigation Act 1966. If convicted, the company could face a fine of up to $100,000.
  

• The UA pilot who operated the flight has been issued a 12-month conditional warning[1] for the offence of operating the UA without a UA pilot licence under the ANR-101.
  

• The other UA pilot involved in the flight has also been issued a 12-month conditional warning for the offence of failing to be in active use of the CFMS mobile application during the UA operations under the ANR-101.

Safety Actions Taken

5          Following the incident, CAAS conducted two on-site audits on H3 Dynamics in August 2024 and September 2024 respectively, and issued four Corrective Action Notices to H3 Dynamics which required H3 Dynamics to review its operational control and ensure compliance with the operations manual approved by CAAS.  

6          H3 Dynamics has completed the corrective actions. These included updating the training requirements for their UA pilots and strengthening their safety procedures and processes, such as putting in place safeguards to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

7          CAAS has assessed H3 Dynamics’ corrective actions and is satisfied that H3 Dynamics is able to comply with the regulatory requirements to conduct a reduced scope of UA activities. Effective 25 October 2024, CAAS will lift the suspension on H3 Dynamics imposed during the investigation and will allow H3 Dynamics to conduct commercial UA operations, with the scope of its operator permit limited to the conduct of aerial photography and videography only. H3 Dynamics will no longer be allowed to conduct UA operations for the purpose of flight test and flight demonstration. H3 Dynamics will also be subjected to increased frequency of safety audits after it resumes UA operations. 

8          Effective 25 October 2024, CAAS will also lift the suspension on the Hexadrone TUNDRA 2 base model. CAAS has not found any safety issues with the base model.

Enhancing Oversight on UA Operations

9        On 23 July 2024, CAAS initiated an industry-wide safety review and required all UA operator permit holders to review their safety procedures and processes. To date, all UA operator permit holders have completed this safety review. CAAS has enhanced guidance materials to provide greater clarity on flight test operations and UA modifications. CAAS has also enhanced safety oversight surveillance on UA operator permit holders who perform UA modifications and flight testing through on-site audits.

 

[1] A conditional warning is a warning issued to the person with the condition that the person does not commit any offence(s) during the 12-month period. If the person commits any offence(s) during this period, the person may be prosecuted for the present offence and the new offence(s).

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg.