Download

Download Full Text (591 KB)

Date of Graduation

5-2025

Description

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones are rapidly integrating into various industries. However, safety concerns regarding their design, training, and operation are rising. To ensure safer integration into the National Airspace System (NAS), it is crucial to understand the potential risks associated with UAS operations. To address these safety concerns, a systematic analysis of UAS incidents is essential to identify common factors and potential risks. There are various sources that record UAS safety events such as accidents and incidents. Analyzing these safety events to identify their causes and contributing factors may help in developing improved design and operations and thereby implementing mitigation strategies for safety events. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap in civilian unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) safety status to inform safety decisions and highlight potential limitations in the current reporting system. To address the gap, I firstly reviewed the status of UAS safety reporting in the U.S. by identifying different incident databases and the information they record. Then, I analyzed UAS safety reports from the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System database to identify trends and contributing factors in reported incidents. I used the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) framework to systematically classify human errors, hardware/software malfunctions, and environmental factors. The analysis revealed that human factors, such as decision errors and regulatory violations, account for 78% of reported incidents, while hardware and software malfunctions contribute to 20%. Environmental factors, such as collisions with objects, were notably rare. The highest number of incidents occurred under visual meteorological conditions (VMC), emphasizing the need for improved operator training even in favorable conditions. By highlighting critical safety issues, such as inadequate authorization practices and equipment failures, this research provides a foundation for enhancing regulatory frameworks, improving operator training, and developing fail-safe technologies for UAS. The study’s insights not only contribute to safer integration of drones into the National Airspace System but also establish a roadmap for addressing emerging challenges in UAS and next-generation autonomous air operations.

Publication Date

2025

Document Type

Book

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Majumdar, Neelakshi

Disciplines

Engineering

Keywords

Engineering

A Review of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety Reporting and Analysis of Incidents

Included in

Engineering Commons

Share

COinS