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 suffered an off-airport landing on April 29, 2021, near Cranfield airport, damaging the aircraft but causing no injuries to those involved.
- Despite the incident, ZeroAvia's hydrogen and electrical systems maintained integrity with no unintended releases or fire, and the crew safely secured the onboard systems. The cause of the landing is currently under investigation.
- The incident will disrupt the final stages of the six-seat HyFlyer demonstration program but is not expected to negatively impact ZeroAvia's commercial-intent HyFlyer 2 or larger engine development programs.
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