# Accident 19961102034619A: Amtr RAF2000, Adrain, MI, November 2, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 2, 1996, 13:52 local time
- Place: Adrain, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8896° N, 84.0399° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8896&lon=-84.0399&mi=10
- Aircraft: N914VT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N914VT-2017-05-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Frost Gary L RAF 2000 GTX SE (registry code 05603DQ, https://openairdocs.org/model/frost-gary-l-raf-2000-gtx-se) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B (registry code 59050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RAF2000
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 23 total, 9 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961102034619A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

EXPERIMENTAL GYROCOPTER EXPLODED IN MID AIR. (.4) THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED 8.8 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE GYROPLANE. HE HAD NO SOLO FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WHEN HE DEPARTED ON A PLANNED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A FEW MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE GYROPLANE WAS OBSERVED MAKING ABRUPT MANEUVERS FOLLOWED BY A DEPARTURE OF PORTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT AND A DESCENT INTO THE TERRAIN. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 2, 1996, AT 1352 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A FROST RAF 2000 GTX SE (GYRO PLANE), N914VT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN FOLLOWING CONTACT BETWEEN THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, THE PUSHER PROPELLER AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE AIRFRAME. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTHEAST OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN. THE STUDENT PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ABOUT 1345 EN ROUTE TO AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION IN OHIO.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA018), Nov 2, 1996: Frost RAF 2000 GTX SE (N914VT), Adrian, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor was his lack of familiarity with the airplane.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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