What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The amateur-built gyrocopter was flying straight and level at 1000 feet AGL when a sudden 40 degree nose up condition occurred. The pilot pushed the stick forward and reduced power. The rotors shook, and the aircraft entered a descending spin which could not be corrected. The aircraft received substantial damage during the hard landing. The pilot received minor injuries. No thermals, gusting winds, or other aircraft operating in the area were noted. However a rare wind anomaly may have caused the initial nose up condition. The pilot performed various flight control and power inputs but none of his efforts proved satisfactory in the limited time due to the low altitude in which the initial condition occurred. An aircraft inspection did not show any pre-impact mechanical irregularities. No further action is recommended.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AMATEUR-BUILT GYROCOPTER WAS FLYING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AT 1000 FEET AGL WHEN A SUDDEN 40 DEGREE NOSE UP CONDITION OCCURRED. THE PILOT PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD AND REDUCED POWER. THE ROTORS SHOOK, AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DESCENDING SPIN WHICH COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE HARD LANDING. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. NO THERMALS, GUSTING WINDS, OR OTHER AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN THE AREA WERE NOTED. HOWEVER A RARE WIND ANOMALY MAY HAVE CAUSED THE INITIAL NOSE UP CONDITION. THE PILOT PERFORMED VARIOUS FLIGHT CONTROL AND POWER INPUTS BUT NONE OF HIS EFFORTS PROVED SATISFACTORY IN THE LIMITED TIME DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE IN WHICH THE INITIAL CONDITION OCCURRED. AN AIRCRAFT INSPECTION DID NOT SHOW ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. NO FURTHER ACTION IS RECOMMENDED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.