What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On may 5, 2002, at 1345 pacific daylight time, a sierra raf 2000 gtx-se, N256SB, experienced rotor contact with the ground and the vertical fin during takeoff at the Lompoc, California, airport. The private-certificated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The experimental, amateur-built, gyrocopter was substantially damaged. The gyrocopter was being operated by the owner under 14 CFR part 91 and was departing for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airport manager reported that gusty wind conditions prevailed at the time. The automated weather observing system (AWOS) reported the winds at 14 knots without gusts. (-23) on Sunday, may 5, 02, at approximately 1345 PDT, PIC paul f. sierra, lifted N256SB, a kit built gyrocopter, off in a stick full aft soft field takeoff loading a passenger for the second flight of the day. The wind was 270 at 14 KTS as reported by an AWOS on Lompoc Airport (ldc) during this takeoff on runway 25. While no more than 3 feet AGL the pilot attempted to move the left to correct for a drift to the right, however, the control would not move left. The pilot reduced power and the aircraft contacted the surface on its right main gear and right side tip path plane. The aircraft remained up right with no injuries to the two occupants but caused substantial damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON MAY 5, 2002, AT 1345 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SIERRA RAF 2000 GTX-SE, N256SB, EXPERIENCED ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND THE VERTICAL FIN DURING TAKEOFF AT THE LOMPOC, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT. THE PRIVATE-CERTIFICATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE EXPERIMENTAL, AMATEUR-BUILT, GYROCOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE GYROCOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE OWNER UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AND WAS DEPARTING FOR A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THAT GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM (AWOS) REPORTED THE WINDS AT 14 KNOTS WITHOUT GUSTS. (-23) ON SUNDAY, MAY 5, 02, AT APPROXIMATELY 1345 PDT, PIC PAUL F. SIERRA, LIFTED N256SB, A KIT BUILT GYROCOPTER, OFF IN A STICK FULL AFT SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF LOADING A PASSENGER FOR THE SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY. THE WIND WAS 270 AT 14 KTS AS REPORTED BY AN AWOS ON LOMPOC AIRPORT (LDC) DURING THIS TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 25. WHILE NO MORE THAN 3 FEET AGL THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE LEFT TO CORRECT FOR A DRIFT TO THE RIGHT, HOWEVER, THE CONTROL WOULD NOT MOVE LEFT. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE SURFACE ON ITS RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND RIGHT SIDE TIP PATH PLANE. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED UP RIGHT WITH NO INJURIES TO THE TWO OCCUPANTS BUT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.