# Accident 19971015031349A: Amtr HAWK2X, Tooele, UT, October 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 1997, 14:16 local time
- Place: Tooele, UT
- Airport: Tooele South Army Depot Wos
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5695° N, 112.3301° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5695&lon=-112.3301&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4412X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4412X-2018-04-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sego Tool HAWK 2X (registry code 13015JR, https://openairdocs.org/model/sego-tool-hawk-2x) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR HAWK2X
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,663 total, 6 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA015) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971015031349A

## Narrative

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

HOMEBUILT HAWK 2X GYRO CAME DOWN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF NOSE GEAR STRUCK ROCK, FLIPPED OVER, TOOELE, UT. (.4)ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS TAKING OFF FOR ONE OF A SERIES OF FLIGHT TESTS.  HE REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE GYROPLANE MADE AN UNCOMMANDED ROLL TO THE RIGHT.  THE PILOT SAID THAT HE APPLIED FULL LEFT CYCLIC AND FULL LEFT RUDDER, BUT THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM STRUCK THE GROUND.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE GYROPLANE AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH THE FUSELAGE TWISTED.  POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE GYROPLANE BY THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURING TEAM REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN OF THIS AIRCRAFT HAD AN INHERENT LAG IN TIME BETWEEN CONTROL INPUT AND AIRCRAFT RESPONSE.  THEY FOUND THE RUNWAY THAT THE GYROPLANE WAS TAKING OFF FROM SLOPPED 1.7 TO 1.8 DEGREES TO THE LEFT.  THEY SAID THAT 'THE MOMENT THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE GROUND, GRAVITY MOVED THE FUSELAGE TO THE LEFT AND THE ROTOR DISK TO THE RIGHT.'  SUBSEQUENTLY, A RIGHT TURN WAS INITIATED AND GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE BY THE MAIN ROTOR DISK BEFORE THE PILOT'S CORRECTION INPUTS COULD TAKE EFFECT.

## 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 FTW98LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA015), Oct 15, 1997: Sego Tool Hawk H2X (N4412X), Tooele, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing was the inadequate design of the flight control systems, resulting in slow response to pilot input.

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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