ZeroAvia’s Piper M-class demonstrator—developed to test flight on hydrogen power—suffered an off-airport landing on April 29, 2021, just outside of the perimeter of the Cranfield airport in the UK. The aircraft was conducting a routine flight within the latter stages of its six-seat HyFlyer testing regime—which was expected to conclude in the next few weeks—recorded as ZeroAvia Test 86, the sixth test flight within the current segment of the program, according to a statement by the company. “The aircraft landed normally on its wheels in a flat grass field and almost came to a stop, but was damaged as it caught the left main gear and wing in the uneven terrain at the end of the field at low speed. Everybody involved is safe, and without injury. The incident was immediately reported to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), and the Fire Service attended on the ground, as is the standard procedure.”
ZeroAvia Demonstrator Makes Off-Airport Landing
Key Takeaways:
- ZeroAvia's hydrogen-powered Piper M-class demonstrator made an off-airport landing near Cranfield, UK, on April 29, 2021, during a routine test flight.
- The aircraft landed safely on its wheels, but was damaged by uneven terrain, though the crew was uninjured and there were no unintended hydrogen or electrical releases.
- The incident will disrupt the ongoing six-seat HyFlyer demonstration program, but ZeroAvia expects no negative impact on its larger commercial-intent HyFlyer 2 or large-engine development programs.
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