Autel Robotics Evo II
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Company Policy
Contract Autel EVO II being used to inspect Antenna Structure Registration infrastructure and briefly contacted the Antenna Structure Registration lightening rod. Operation was being conducted by contractor with vendor oversight. Pilot immediately backed away from structure with no loss of vehicle control and landed for inspection. Extremely minor prop damage was observed; new props attached; field debrief accomplished;  and operation continued. UAS flight plan was changed by request of vendor to closer inspection pictures of the top radar antenna. The lightening rod on each corner extend above the top altitude of the radar antenna. The Remote Pilot in Command was relying on the UAS rear collision avoidance; which did not detect the narrow lightening rod. Due to geometry and distance of the structure made depth perception for Visual Observer not possible. 1)Vendor should include policy to land and brief if flight plan is changed 2)Vendor should include expected crew action in the event situational awareness with structure is lost or obstacle clearance is uncertain 3) In inspections of complex structures; crew may need to do walk around and locate best places for Visual Observer and potentially have more than 1 Visual Observer present.
UAS pilot struck an object while flying and landed safely.