Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Apr 29, 2021
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on April 29, 2021 near Cranfield, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom with no fatalities. Cause:...
- Date: April 29, 2021
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The windmilling propeller produced a voltage that tripped the inverter protection and locked out motor power when the battery was selected off. The crew could not reset the system.
ZeroAvia's hydrogen electric Piper PA 46 test aircraft lost all electric drive to its propeller while on a circuit at Cranfield after the battery was switched off to run on the fuel cell alone. The crew made a forced landing in a field, hit a hedge and a ditch, and the left wing broke away. Both occupants were unhurt; the AAIB found an inverter protection lockout caused by voltage from the windmilling propeller.