# Accident 20020505007799A: Amtr RAF2000GTXSE, Lompoc, CA, May 5, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2002, 13:45 local time
- Place: Lompoc, CA
- Airport: Lompoc Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6650° N, 120.4667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6650&lon=-120.4667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N256SB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N256SB-2018-01-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sierra Paul F RAF 2000 GTX-SE (registry code 05605R1, https://openairdocs.org/model/sierra-paul-f-raf-2000-gtx-se) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B (registry code 59050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RAF2000GTXSE
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020505007799A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 LAX02LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA149), May 5, 2002: Sierra RAF 2000 GTX-SE (N256SB), Lompoc, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for wind condition.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.