What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On December 22, 2000 at approximately 1730 EST an experimental amatuer built rotorcraft-gyroplane struck a fence during an attempted takeoff from the owners back yard. The aircraft was being operated on a 14 CFR part 91 flight and VFR conditions existed at the time. The pilot stated that he had made several takeoffs previously from the site, but stated that in the past they had been made solo or with his small children on board. He stated that this was his first attempt with an adult passenger and that his passenger was a large individual. He further stated that when he saw that he might not clear the fence, he initiated a turn which exacerbated the problem and the aircraft began to settle prior to striking the fence.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON DECEMBER 22, 2000 AT APPROXIMATELY 1730 EST AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATUER BUILT ROTORCRAFT-GYROPLANE STRUCK A FENCE DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM THE OWNERS BACK YARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT AND VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE SEVERAL TAKEOFFS PREVIOUSLY FROM THE SITE, BUT STATED THAT IN THE PAST THEY HAD BEEN MADE SOLO OR WITH HIS SMALL CHILDREN ON BOARD. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST ATTEMPT WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER AND THAT HIS PASSENGER WAS A LARGE INDIVIDUAL. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN HE SAW THAT HE MIGHT NOT CLEAR THE FENCE, HE INITIATED A TURN WHICH EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE PRIOR TO STRIKING THE FENCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.