# Accident 20020915023549A: Amtr AIRCOMAND503, Prineville, OR, September 15, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2002, 10:00 local time
- Place: Prineville, OR
- Airport: Prineville Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.2894° N, 120.9064° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2894&lon=-120.9064&mi=10
- Aircraft: N25069, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25069-2004-03-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eells Belinda C AIR COMMAND-503 (registry code 056087I, https://openairdocs.org/model/eells-belinda-c-air-command-503) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR AIRCOMAND503
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020915023549A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2002, ABOUT 1000 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL AIR COMMAND 503 GYROCOPTER, N25069, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT AS A 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED AT THE PRINEVILLE AIRPORT, PRINEVILLE, OREGON. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE GYROCOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE STUDENT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLARED THE GYROCOPTER TOO HIGH. IT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME. (-23) DARRELL W. SHEETS, ACTING AS A SOLO STUDENT PILOT, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING IN AN AIR COMMAND-503 GYROPLANE AT PRINEVILLE AIRPORT, OREGON. MR. SHEETS ALLOWED THE GYROPLANE'S ROTOR RPM TO DETERIORATE DURING THE LANDING FLARE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO BOUNCE ON CONTACT WITH THE LANDING SURFACE AND ROLL. MR. SHEETS WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE AIR COMMAND-503 INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. MGC

## 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 SEA02LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA176), Sep 15, 2002: Eells Air Command 503 (N25069), Prineville, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a hard landing.

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.

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