# Accident 19980818021269A: Amtr BARNETTJ4B, Marysville, CA, August 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 18, 1998, 12:08 local time
- Place: Marysville, CA
- Airport: Yuba County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1499° N, 121.4690° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1499&lon=-121.4690&mi=10
- Aircraft: N694, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N694-2018-01-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Clark Jesse BARNETT J4B2 (registry code 05601HW, https://openairdocs.org/model/clark-jesse-barnett-j4b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B (registry code 59050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR BARNETTJ4B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 35 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA271) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980818021269A

## Narrative

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

GYRO COPTER WAS APPROX 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN IT LOST A MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND CRASHED. (-23)ROTORCRAFT WAS FLYING UP AND DOWN THE TAXIWAY WHEN IN A TURN, THE ROTORCRAFT ROTORBLADES HIT THE GROUND.  AT THIS TIME, THE ROTORCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  PILOT WAS NOT HURT. (.4) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS TESTING OUT A NEW SET OF ROTOR BLADES THAT HE HAD RECENTLY CHANGED OUT.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GYROCOPTER UNEXPECTEDLY SHOT STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR 50 FEET DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL.  HE HAD TROUBLE MAINTAINING CONTROL, STATING THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY YAWED TO THE LEFT AND IT FELT LIKE THE LEFT RUDDER WAS BEING HELD.  THE PILOT MADE A PATTERN CIRCUIT AND DECIDED TO LAND IN A DIRT AREA ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.  HE SAID HE LANDED NOSE LOW IN SOFT DIRT, WHICH BROKE THE NOSE WHEEL OFF, SLID 30 FEET AND THEN NOSED OVER.  AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR, ROTOR HEAD, AND THE EMPENNAGE CONTROL SURFACES WERE DESTROYED.

## 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 LAX98LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA271), Aug 18, 1998: Clark Barnett J4B2 (N694), Marysville, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate rigging of the rotor blades and rudder, which led to an inability to maintain control of the gryocopter. The pilot's inadequate landing flare in soft terrain, which resulted in…

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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