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<p>On 16 November 2020, a MQ-8C Firescout was preparing for a form/fit/function ground test of a new battery. The ground test was considered low risk and therefore did not require extensive risk mitigation steps. The test points were simple: start the air vehicle, do a systems check, and shut down the air vehicle. On the morning of the test event, the MQ-8C was chained to the ground (as it was a maintenance ground turn), and a maintenance laptop was connected to interface with the air vehicle systems. A command and control communication link was not established with a ground station. The test team started the air system, and everything functioned as expected until test personnel initiated shutdown. Within 30 seconds, the air vehicle went to full power, the rotor disk shifted from parallel to the ground to full forward and full right, the shifted disk cut the only connection to the maintenance laptop, and the system ran for approximately 6 minutes until the transmission came apart causing over $2,500,000 of damage. This paper summarizes the facts surrounding the mishap and offers conclusions and recommendations on how to avoid similar mishaps in the future.</p>

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Analysis of an Uncrewed Mishap During Ground Test: A Case Study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月15日

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  • Donald Costello

摘要

On 16 November 2020, a MQ-8C Firescout was preparing for a form/fit/function ground test of a new battery. The ground test was considered low risk and therefore did not require extensive risk mitigation steps. The test points were simple: start the air vehicle, do a systems check, and shut down the air vehicle. On the morning of the test event, the MQ-8C was chained to the ground (as it was a maintenance ground turn), and a maintenance laptop was connected to interface with the air vehicle systems. A command and control communication link was not established with a ground station. The test team started the air system, and everything functioned as expected until test personnel initiated shutdown. Within 30 seconds, the air vehicle went to full power, the rotor disk shifted from parallel to the ground to full forward and full right, the shifted disk cut the only connection to the maintenance laptop, and the system ran for approximately 6 minutes until the transmission came apart causing over $2,500,000 of damage. This paper summarizes the facts surrounding the mishap and offers conclusions and recommendations on how to avoid similar mishaps in the future.