20010731019009A

(.19) On July 31, 2001, at 1146 eastern daylight time, an experimental air & space america 18A gyrocopter, N6121S, was destroyed at Blairstown Airport while standing with the main rotor turning. The certificated airline transport pilot and passenger received minor injuries. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to an inspector from the federal aviation administration (FAA), the passenger was interested in buying a similar type aircraft and was onboard for familiarization. The FAA inspector interviewed the pilot and stated: "...[the pilot]...ground taxiied... Without the rotors turning, to the run-up area short of runway 7. [The pilot]...completed the run-up...without the main rotors turning. After the checks, [the pilot]...moved the aircraft to the approach end of runway 7 engage the rotors. She indicated that she engaged the rotors (fully), and had 120 RPM (on the rotor) / 1,000 RPM on the engine. As she advanced the throttle (towards full), the aircraft started to vibrate...as this started to happen, [the pilot]...de-pitched the rotor system and close d the throttle..." According to a witness: "the gyrocopter appeared to do a run-up at the west end of the runway. As the main rotor came up to speed, heavy vibration seemed to occur. The aircraft oscillated up and down, braking off the right landing gear, rolling the aircraft first to the right, and when the rotor hit [the ground, the gyrocopter rolled] to the left." Other witnesses reported similar observations. The FAA inspector reported the gyrocopter was equipped with a three bladed main rotor system, which included lead-lag dampers. It was possible to engage the main rotor system with the engine to increase the speed of the main rotor disk, and also increase the pitch of the main rotor blades prior to takeoff. Further, the FAA inspector reported that the gyrocopter came to rest on its left side. The cockpit windows were shattered. The main rotor head separated from the main rotor mast. The tail boom and vertical stabilizers were bent, and the landing gear separated from the fuselage. The dynamic dampers on the main rotor blades were fractured. In addition, the main rotor blade pitch control was found disconnected from the swash plate. According to FAA records, th e pilot's total flight experience was in excess of 16,000 hours. (-23) the aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR part 91 from runway 7 at Blairstown Airport (1N7), Blairstown, NJ. As the pilot added power for take off, the gyrocopter aircraft started to violently shake with the rotor blades striking the runway. The rotor head and blades were torn from the aircraft and the engine propeller was bent. The aircraft received substantial damage. The pilot received minor injuries and the passenger received no injuries.