Divers locate, recover missing MCSO drone

Divers with the Houston Police Department recovered the missing Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office drone Thursday afternoon after it crashed and sank into Lake Conroe April 25.

According to information from Lt. Brady Fitzgerald, PIO with MCSO, officials with his department will work with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine what caused the Shadowhawk Unmanned Aerial System to malfunction and crash. He said parts of the aircraft will be sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for structural analysis.

The recovery comes after law enforcement officials identified several “spots of interest” in the lake nearly 40 deep.

While the cause of the unmanned aerial vehicle’s crash has not been determined, Fitzgerald said operators were conducting exercises when the drone “malfunctioned” and crashed.

The MCSO purchased the Shadowhawk for approximately $500,000 in October 2011. The purchase was funded by grants from the Department of Homeland Security. The Shadowhawk contains powerful video and thermal imaging surveillance equipment.

The remote-controlled drone is insured by a Dallas firm, the ACE Group. The Shadowhawk’s policy covers “roughly” $238,000, the “hard costs” of the unmanned aircraft such as the optics and avionics, according to information from MCSO.

Soft costs include items such as training fees and warranties that cannot be recovered through an insurance policy.