# Accident 19970311003699A: Amtr PARSON2+2, Bunnell, FL, March 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 1997, 17:40 local time
- Place: Bunnell, FL
- Airport: Flagler County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.4661° N, 81.2578° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bunnell, FL, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4661&lon=-81.2578&mi=10
- Aircraft: N254WP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N254WP-2013-09-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Parsons Bill PARSONS 2+2 (registry code 130016F, https://openairdocs.org/model/parsons-bill-parsons-2-plus-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Arrow V8F (registry code 06001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/arrow-v8f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR PARSON2+2
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970311003699A

## Narrative

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

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).

## 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 ATL97LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA048), Mar 11, 1997: Bill Parson Parson 2+2 (N254WP), Bunnell, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: 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.

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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