# Accident 20040221001679A: Amtr SPORTCOPTER, Marysville, CA, February 21, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 21, 2004, 13:55 local time
- Place: Marysville, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1236° N, 121.6053° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1236&lon=-121.6053&mi=10
- Aircraft: N96XV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96XV-2009-06-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gillespie Gregory S SPORT COPTER VORTEX (registry code 05615EG, https://openairdocs.org/model/gillespie-gregory-s-sport-copter-vortex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR SPORTCOPTER
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX582
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 100 total, 9 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040221001679A

## Narrative

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

(-23) GYRO COPTER N96XV WAS FLYING DOWNWIND, 1 MILE SOUTH OF MYV, ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE AGL HEADING NORTH. A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTERING AND SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND IMPACTED THE FEATHER RIVER BED. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE WITNESS SAW FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK, BUT NO FIRE. UPON INSPECTION BY THE FAA, THE VACUUM LINE GOING TO THE FUEL PNEUMATIC PUMP HAD AN IRREGULAR PART INSTALLED. THE ROTAX MANUAL REQUIRES A HARD, NON-COLLAPSIBLE LINE. THE LINE INSTALLED WAS FLEXIBLE AND HAD A 45 DEGREE KINK ON THE VACUUM SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL IN PHASE 1 OF THE 40 HOUR FLIGHT TESTING PHASE. HOBBS METER HAD 12.3 HRS. A WITNESS STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND FLIGHT AND THE PILOT MAY HAVE 1-2 HOURS TOTAL IN THIS 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 LAX04LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA132), Feb 21, 2004: Gillespie Sport Copter Vortex (N96XV), Yuba City, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to the incorrect installation of the fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation, and the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM, which resulted in an inflight loss of…

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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