Vertical Aerospace has determined that a propeller anomaly was likely the primary factor behind the flight testing mishap involving its VX4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) prototype on August 9. The company revealed that an "unexpected fault occurred causing the aircraft to enter a stable descent, before being damaged on impact with the ground." According to Vertical, the implicated propeller was an early-generation version that had already undergone redesign before the incident.
Founder and CEO of Vertical, Stephen Fitzpatrick, commented, "We are pleased with our flight test progress to date and the data, insights, and invaluable learnings we have collected." Fitzpatrick acknowledged that encountering issues during the testing phase of an innovative aircraft is not unusual. He emphasized the company's ongoing commitment to its development and certification timelines.
Vertical Aerospace is actively addressing the situation by implementing undisclosed additional recommendations derived from its internal investigation. A report regarding the incident has been submitted to the U.K.'s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), with Vertical anticipating an update once the AAIB concludes its own inquiry. The accident occurred at Vertical's flight test center located at Cotswold Airport (GBA) in the U.K. The company remains on track to introduce an upgraded prototype next year, incorporating technology from its top-tier partners.
