# Accident 19980112000339A: Amtr RAF2000, Wahiawa, HI, January 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 1998, 10:30 local time
- Place: Wahiawa, HI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 21.5700° N, 158.1202° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5700&lon=-158.1202&mi=10
- Aircraft: N90606 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RAF2000
- Reported engine: AMTR EJ22
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 57 total, 51 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980112000339A

## Narrative

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

FAILED TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE LOST CONTROL AND LANDED HARD. (.4)THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST DAY FLYING HIS GYROCOPTER AFTER INSTALLATION OF A NEW, MORE POWERFUL ENGINE.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BECAUSE OF A STRONG LEFT TURNING TENDENCY NOTED DURING AN EARLIER FLIGHT, HE HAD ADJUSTED THE RUDDER TRIM TAB AND THE TRIM SPRINGS.  ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, APPROACHING THE AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL UPON APPLICATION OF FULL ENGINE POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT.  THE GYROCOPTER TURNED 90 DEGREES LEFT AND CRASHED INTO A SUGAR CANE FIELD.  THE FAA COORDINATOR REPORTED THAT ITS EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S PERSONAL FLIGHT RECORD LOGBOOK INDICATED THE PILOT HAD LAST RECEIVED DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN NOVEMBER 1996.  THE PILOT'S LAST 90-DAY SOLO FLYING ENDORSEMENT WAS SIGNED BY HIS CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN APRIL 1997.                 (-23) WHILE PRACTICING APPROACHES, STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY CORRECT FOR TORQUE. STUDENT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING THAT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 LAX98LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA072), Jan 12, 1998: Daniel RAF-2000 (N90606), Wahiawa, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control due to inadequate trim adjustments following installation of a larger engine.

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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