# Accident 19990520028979A: Amtr TWINSTAR, Bloomsburg, PA, May 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 1999, 19:30 local time
- Place: Bloomsburg, PA
- Airport: Bloomsburg Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9997° N, 76.4493° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9997&lon=-76.4493&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6364H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6364H-2001-04-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hammond Richard Dwayne TWINSTARR TS1 (registry code 05605LX, https://openairdocs.org/model/hammond-richard-dwayne-twinstarr-ts1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR TWINSTAR
- Reported engine: LYC IO320A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,793 total, 87 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990520028979A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 NYC99LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA115), May 20, 1999: Hammond Twinstar Gyroplane (N6364H), Bloomsburg, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

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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