# Accident 19980614045639A: Pauls Valley, OK, June 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 14, 1998, 20:06 local time
- Place: Pauls Valley, OK
- Airport: Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7102° N, 97.2240° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pauls Valley, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7102&lon=-97.2240&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5984X (not matched to a registry record)
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980614045639A

## Narrative

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

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT FLYING THE GYROPLANE AROUND THE AIRPORT AT A "LOW ALTITUDE" FOR ABOUT 30-35 MINUTES, AND THEN LAND. THE PILOT MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ROTOR HEAD TRIM AND THEN TOOK OFF AGAIN.  THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT "DID A LOT OF VERY LOW FLYING BETWEEN HANGARS, [AND] NEVER GOT OVER 15-20 FEET HIGH."  A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT MADE ANOTHER LOW PASS OVER THEM CLOSE TO THE NORTH END OF A HANGAR.  THE PILOT THEN FLEW DOWN THE NW RUNWAY AND TO THE WEST OF THEIR VIEW.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED FROM THE WEST, IT WAS ABOUT 10 TO 12 FEET AGL.  AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME AROUND THE HANGAR, A ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE HANGAR DOOR SUPPORT, SEPARATING THE ROTOR BLADE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE GYROPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.  THE PILOT WAS WEARING A HELMET; HOWEVER, THE STRAP DID NOT HAVE A BUCKLE.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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