# Accident 19990626007679A: Amtr BENSENB8M, Grenncastle, IN, June 26, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 26, 1999, 08:00 local time
- Place: Grenncastle, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6399° N, 86.8406° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6399&lon=-86.8406&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2152G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2152G-2013-07-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gillmore John BENSEN B8M (registry code 13021ZP, https://openairdocs.org/model/gillmore-john-bensen-b8m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR BENSENB8M
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990626007679A

## Narrative

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

ACFT WAS BEING TESTED AFTER MAINTENANCE ON THE TURBOCHARGER, WHEN ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH OVER THE RWY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, THE WITNESS LOOKED UP WHEN THE POWER LEVEL DECREASED AND SAW THE ACFT IN SLIP WITH ITS LEFT SIDE LOW, ROTOR STILL TURNING, AND THE ACFT DESCENDED WITH LITTLE IF ANY POWER IN SLIP UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (.19)ON JUNE 26, 1999, AT 0830 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A GILLMORE BENSON B&B (AMATEUR BUILT GYROPLANE), N2152G, DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NEAR GREENCASTLE, INDIANA.  THE GYROPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, WHILE THE PILOT RECIEVED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE.  THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED ABOUT 0725.  THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ROLL CONTROL WAS LOST AND WHILE ATTEMPRING TO MANEUVER THE ENGINE SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER.  AN EXAMINATIN OF THE GYROPLANE SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT FOUND THAT THE RIGHT CYCLIC CONTROL ROD WAS FOUND FRACTURED.  THERE WAS DISCOLORATION IN ABOUT 90% OF THE FRACTURE IN THE CONTROL ROD.                                                  (-23)ACCORDING TO WITNESS STAEMENT: AIRCRAFT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH OVER THE RUNWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. WITNESS LOOKED UP WHEN POWER LEVEL DECREASED GREATLY AND SAW AIRCRAFT IN SLIP WITH LEFT SIDE LOW, ROTOR WAS STILL TURNING.  AIRCRAFT DESCENDED WITH LITTLE IF ANY POWER, IN THE SLIP, UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND.

## 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 CHI99LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA200), Jun 26, 1999: Gillmore Benson B&M (N2152G), Greencastle, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the cyclic control rod. Factors were aircraft control not possible for the pilot.

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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