Accident Damages Vertical Aerospace’s Prototype VX4

LONDON—The prototype of Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft was damaged during flight testing on Aug. 9.

The aircraft appears to have made a hard landing on the runway at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, England, which is home to Vertical's flight test center. Runway operations at the airfield were subsequently halted in the hours following, NOTAMs state.

In a statement issued to shareholders, the company said the prototype was “involved in an incident during flight testing,” noting that the aircraft was being piloted remotely and that no injuries resulted from the crash.

“The incident occurred during an uncrewed test of the aircraft’s maneuverability during a motor failure test scenario, which is a key requirement to progress to crewed operations,” the statement added.

The company said it is now working closely with relevant authorities.

Images of the aircraft published online from the scene after the incident appear to suggest both the nose wheel and right-side main collapsed, resulting in the nose and right-hand wing tip resting on the ground.

The accident comes less than a month after Vertical performed the VX4’s first non-tethered, battery-powered flights.

The VX4 is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers or a 450 kg (992 lb.) payload up to 100 mi. (161 km) at a cruising speed of 150 mph (130 kt.).

It is propelled by electric motors which drive four propellers mounted on the wing leading edge that tilt between vertical and forward flight and four lift rotors on the trailing edge that are stopped in forward flight.