# Accident 20050514007509A: SPARROWHAWK, Hondo, TX, May 14, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 14, 2005, 14:00 local time
- Place: Hondo, TX
- Airport: Hondo Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.3567° N, 99.3267° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3567&lon=-99.3267&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8023Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8023Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mayfield James P SPARROWHAWK (registry code 056153A, https://openairdocs.org/model/mayfield-james-p-sparrowhawk) (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: SPARROWHAWK
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 700 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW05CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050514007509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 14, 2005, A SPARROW HAWK GYROCOPTER, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE HONDO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THE PRE-ROTATOR CABLE JAMMED DURING ROTATION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN THE CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED AND NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS NO POST FIRE AND NO INJURIES.

## 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 DFW05CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA120), May 14, 2005: Mayfield Sparrowhawk (N8023Y), Hondo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyrocraft during takeoff. A contributing factor was the failure of the pre-rotator cable.

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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