19990520028979A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr Twinstar · Bloomsburg, PA · May 20, 1999

Date: May 20, 1999 · 19:30 local
Place: Bloomsburg, PA
Airport: Bloomsburg Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6364H
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC99LA115
Reported as: Amtr Twinstar
Reported engine: Lycoming IO320A1A
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,793 total87 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N6364HRegistration cancelled Apr 13, 2001 · Hammond Richard Dwayne TWINSTARR TS1S/N TS009 Airframe modelHammond Richard Dwayne TWINSTARR TS1

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The pilot was attempting a takeoff in his gyroplane when the rotor RPM decreased. The pilot continued the takeoff roll to try to increase the rotor RPM. However, the rotor blades began flapping, and finally struck the ground to the left of the gyroplane, causing it to roll over to the left. Winds at the time were from the left, about 90 degrees, at 7 to 10 knots, with reported gusts in the area. The private pilot had 87 hours of flight time in model. He was rated in airplane category aircraft, but not in rotorcraft category aircraft. According to 49 CFR part 61.31(k)(2)(I), a rotorcraft category rating and the gyroplane class rating were not required, even though a passenger was onboard, since the gyroplane was not type-certificated. In addition, the operating limitations for the gyroplane did not require the pilot to have an appropriate category or class rating, as well.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF IN HIS GYROPLANE WHEN THE ROTOR RPM DECREASED. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ROLL TO TRY TO INCREASE THE ROTOR RPM. HOWEVER, THE ROTOR BLADES BEGAN FLAPPING, AND FINALLY STRUCK THE GROUND TO THE LEFT OF THE GYROPLANE, CAUSING IT TO ROLL OVER TO THE LEFT. WINDS AT THE TIME WERE FROM THE LEFT, ABOUT 90 DEGREES, AT 7 TO 10 KNOTS, WITH REPORTED GUSTS IN THE AREA. THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD 87 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN MODEL. HE WAS RATED IN AIRPLANE CATEGORY AIRCRAFT, BUT NOT IN ROTORCRAFT CATEGORY AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO 49 CFR PART 61.31(K)(2)(I), A ROTORCRAFT CATEGORY RATING AND THE GYROPLANE CLASS RATING WERE NOT REQUIRED, EVEN THOUGH A PASSENGER WAS ONBOARD, SINCE THE GYROPLANE WAS NOT TYPE-CERTIFICATED. IN ADDITION, THE OPERATING LIMITATIONS FOR THE GYROPLANE DID NOT REQUIRE THE PILOT TO HAVE AN APPROPRIATE CATEGORY OR CLASS RATING, AS WELL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC99LA115Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBloomsburg, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient takeoff rpm. Factors included crosswind gusts, and the FAA's lack of category and class rating requirements for pilots flying non-type-certificated experimental aircraft.May 20, 1999 · Substantial damage