Lessons Learned From an Electric Airplane Accident

Investigators make safety recommendations after ZeroAvia’s forced landing.

Thom Patterson

Monday, July 11, 2022 at 01:22 PM ET

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The accident occurred as the modified Piper Malibu Mirage lined up for landing. [Courtesy: AAIB]

Key Takeaways:

An electric ZeroAvia Piper Malibu Mirage experienced a forced landing due to power loss during a flight test when its inverters locked out while switching between battery and hydrogen fuel cell power sources, caused by windmilling propellers generating back-voltage.
Key contributing factors included insufficient ground testing for the effects of back-voltage, a poorly designed cockpit display that hindered pilot awareness of power loss, and organizational shortcomings in safety protocol adherence and oversight.
ZeroAvia has acknowledged and "robustly" addressed these issues, implementing safety improvements, embedding lessons learned into its designs and culture, and establishing a comprehensive safety management system.

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Leading electric airplane developer ZeroAvia says it has “addressed robustly” many issues contributing to an accident of a modified Piper Malibu Mirage (PA-46-350P) propelled by two electric motors.

In the April 2021 event, the airplane lost power during a flight test, causing a forced landing just outside Cranfield Airport (EGTC), in Bedfordshire, England. Neither member of the two-person flight crew was injured in the accident.