What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Pilot departed Flying B Airport, at yelm, Washington, and struck a power line during the initial climb. Pilot told NTSB personnel that he "lost power" and landed the gyrocopter onto a road, but inadvertently struck power lines. NTSB investigators have not found any caused for a loss of power and believe the accident to be operational in nature. NTSB investigators were provided from the pilot a video tape of the accident and stated that he heard the engine performing the entire time of the accident sequence. Due to the experimental status of the aircraft, pilot is not required to hold a gyrocopter/rotorcraft rating.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)PILOT DEPARTED FLYING B AIRPORT, AT YELM, WASHINGTON, AND STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB. PILOT TOLD NTSB PERSONNEL THAT HE "LOST POWER" AND LANDED THE GYROCOPTER ONTO A ROAD, BUT INADVERTENTLY STRUCK POWER LINES. NTSB INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT FOUND ANY CAUSED FOR A LOSS OF POWER AND BELIEVE THE ACCIDENT TO BE OPERATIONAL IN NATURE. NTSB INVESTIGATORS WERE PROVIDED FROM THE PILOT A VIDEO TAPE OF THE ACCIDENT AND STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE PERFORMING THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. DUE TO THE EXPERIMENTAL STATUS OF THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT IS NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD A GYROCOPTER/ROTORCRAFT RATING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.