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WPR23LA330

2023-08-29 · Reno, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KRTS

Current FAA registration · N53GR

Make / Model
YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD FAZER SAR
Year of manufacture
2021 · 2 years old at event
Engine
AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
0
Last airworthiness date
20241223
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6AEBA

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The operator’s incorrect input into the ground station controller, resulting in a loss of control during flight and subsequent impact with terrain.

Factual narrative

The operator of the uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) reported that, he and an external emergency safety pilot were conducting an engineering test flight to fine tune the autopilot’s tail rotor yaw limits. While hovering at 50 ft agl, the operator incorrectly input a full left tail rotor command, causing the UAS to begin a rapid counterclockwise rotation. The auto pilot was unable to maintain a level attitude or stabilize the UAS during the rotation, and descended uncontrollably. The safety pilot attempted to stabilize the UAS manually, using the emergency RC controller, to no avail. The UAS impacted the surface, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. The operator of the UAS reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Yaw control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA330.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (loss of control, autopilot). All research papers