# Accident 19990925029699A: Amtr DOMINATOR, Auburn-Lewiston, ME, September 25, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 1999, 16:54 local time
- Place: Auburn-Lewiston, ME
- Airport: Auburn-Lewiston Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Practice Training Manuevers
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0485° N, 70.2835° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at AUBURN/LEWISTON MUNI (LEW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0485&lon=-70.2835&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4449N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4449N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pratt Eugene H DOMINATOR (registry code 05606GY, https://openairdocs.org/model/pratt-eugene-h-dominator) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR DOMINATOR
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX503
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 129 total, 23 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA237) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990925029699A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A 180 DEGREE TURN WITH 0 AIRSPEED TO A DOWNWIND CONDITION AT 100 FEET AGL IN HIS HOMEBUILT GYROPLANE. HE HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE MANEUVER ONCE, AND WAS ATTEMPTING IT FOR A SECOND TIME.  DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT,  THE PILOT SLOWED THE GYROPLANE UNTIL REACHING APPROXIMATELY 0 AIRSPEED, THEN APPLIED PEDAL TO EXECUTE THE TURN.  THE GYROPLANE ENTERED A RAPID DESCENT.  THE PILOT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, AND LOWERED THE NOSE OF THE GYROPLANE TO GAIN AIRSPEED.  RECOGNIZING THE IMPENDING IMPACT, THE PILOT LEVELED THE ROTOR'S TIP-PATH-PLANE, AND THE GYROPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND LEVEL WITH FORWARD AIRSPEED. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND ON BOTH SIDES.  IN ADDITION, THE ROTOR CONTACTED THE ENGINE DRIVEN PROPELLER, SHEARING OFF ALL THREE BLADES. THE GYROPLANE BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND FOR A SECOND TIME.  DURING THE SECOND IMPACT, THE GYROPLANE WAS LEVEL, BUT ROLLED RIGHT AFTER GROUND CONTACT, AND SLID 20 TO 30 FEET ON ITS SIDE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.  ACCORDING TO THE KIT MANUFACTURER, AT 0 AIRSPEED THE GYROPLANE WOULD DESCEND AT 1,000 TO 1,500 FEET PER MINUTE.                                   (-23) PILOT WAS PRACTICING PEDAL TURNS. ON HIS 3RD TIME AT APPROX 200' AGL HE COMPLETED A PEDAL TURN WITH TOO SLOW AN AIRSPEED.  HE COMPLETED THE TURN AND THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DESCEND.  PILOT ADDED POWER BUT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT RATE.  HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE ROTORS PARALLEL WITH THE GROUND IN PREPARATION FOR IMPACT.

## 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 NYC99LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA237), Sep 25, 1999: Pratt Dominator (N4449N), Auburn, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to execute a 0 airspeed pedal turn at 100 feet agl.

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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