# Accident 19980724017619A: Amtr AVENGER, Mentone, IN, July 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 1998, 13:45 local time
- Place: Mentone, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1697° N, 86.0300° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1697&lon=-86.0300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2223A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2223A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Marchetti Frank AVENGER GYRO PLANE (registry code 1302606, https://openairdocs.org/model/marchetti-frank-avenger-gyro-plane) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR AVENGER
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 70 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA277) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980724017619A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASHED AND WAS DESTROYED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJ. (.4)THE PILOT PERFORMED A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND CLIMBED TO 500 FEET AGL, ON A 360 DEGREE HEADING.  WHEN HE LEVELED OFF, THE GYROPLANE'S CONTROL RESPONSE 'BECAME SUDDENLY HEAVY, COINCIDING WITH AN INCREASE IN ROTOR SPEED.'  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY REDUCED POWER TO IDLE (600) RPM AND ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN AND DOVE TOWARD THE GROUND.  THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE BOTH PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL STICKS.  THE GYROPLANE IMPACTED INTO A SOYBEAN FIELD.  THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT HAD WIDE-CHORD (8 AND 1/2 INCH) ROTOR BLADES INSTALLED ON THE GYROPLANE.  ON A FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED DURING ROLLOUT FROM A LEVEL, RIGHT, 180 DEGREE TURN, THAT THE CONTROL STICK FELT VERY HEAVY.  THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT THE VNE OF THE GYROPLANE WAS 60 MPH.  AT THAT AIRSPEED, THE GYROPLANE HAS A NOSEDOWN PITCH OF 5 TO 6 DEGREES.  THE GYROPLANE HAD A 10-INCH CHORD AIRBOAT PROPELLER INSTALLED ON IT.  THE OWNER SAID THAT IF THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED BELOW 1,200 RPM, THE DRAG, INDUCED BY THE PROPELLER, INCREASES ON THE AIRCRAFT AND THE NOSE WILL PITCH DOWN. THE ENGINE IDLES AT APPROXIMATELY 600 TO 650 RPM.  'IF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FAST AND THE PILOT REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE, HE WOULD RUN OUT OF AFT STICK.'  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES.

## 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 CHI98LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA277), Jul 24, 1998: Marchetti Avenger Gryo Plane (N2223A), Mentone, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the gyroplane's performance, and his improper in-flight decision to reduce engine power to idle which aggravated the gyroplane's nose down pitch and exceeded the…

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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