Bonding Issue with Propeller Caused Vertical's VX4 eVTOL Prototype To Crash

The company will not be using the same propeller design for later prototypes and production aircraft.

Vertical Aerospace's VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft will carry four passengers. — Vertical Aerospace says it expects to resume flight testing with a second VX4 eVTOL prototype after an August 9 accident badly damaged the first aircraft. (Image: Vertical)

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

August 31, 2023

Vertical Aerospace says a bonding issue in a propeller was the root cause of an August 9 accident that badly damaged its VX4 eVTOL prototype aircraft during flight testing at Cotswold Airport in the UK. On Thursday, the company said it had submitted a report to the country’s Air Accident Investigation Branch and is preparing to start flying a second, more advanced, prototype of the four-passenger all-electric vehicle in early 2024.

“The early-generation propeller had already been redesigned prior to the incident, with the issue fully resolved ahead of the next phase of testing,” the UK start-up said in a press statement. “Further recommendations by the investigation [team] are being implemented by Vertical.”

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