What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Struck trees on climbout. Pilot mechanic had unsafe modified control stick failed. Using nitro for heart problem. (.4)the owner/pilot mechanic's improper bending of the front flight control stick that resulted in an fatigue failure, and the subsequent loss of flight control. (-23)pilot was alos mechanic on his experimental gyrocopter. Many modifications (tail, rudder, control sticks, rotors) were made without any log entries. Pilot test flew gyrocopter after these modifications with a passenger in backseat. Crashed onto trees shortly after takeoff. The pilot in front seat had a modified "soft stick" for directional control (meant for sudent use-instructor could override in back with a soud stick).
As the FAA filed it
STRUCK TREES ON CLIMBOUT. PILOT MECHANIC HAD UNSAFE MODIFIED CONTROL STICK FAILED. USING NITRO FOR HEART PROBLEM. (.4)THE OWNER/PILOT MECHANIC'S IMPROPER BENDING OF THE FRONT FLIGHT CONTROL STICK THAT RESULTED IN AN FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF FLIGHT CONTROL. (-23)PILOT WAS ALOS MECHANIC ON HIS EXPERIMENTAL GYROCOPTER. MANY MODIFICATIONS (TAIL, RUDDER, CONTROL STICKS, ROTORS) WERE MADE WITHOUT ANY LOG ENTRIES. PILOT TEST FLEW GYROCOPTER AFTER THESE MODIFICATIONS WITH A PASSENGER IN BACKSEAT. CRASHED ONTO TREES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT IN FRONT SEAT HAD A MODIFIED "SOFT STICK" FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL (MEANT FOR SUDENT USE-INSTRUCTOR COULD OVERRIDE IN BACK WITH A SOUD STICK).
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.