# Accident 20110706012089A: Van Kalker John E RAF 2000 GTX SE, Decker, IN, July 6, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 6, 2011, 10:30 local time
- Place: Decker, IN
- Airport: Snider Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5000° N, 87.5958° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5000&lon=-87.5958&mi=10
- Aircraft: N25VK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25VK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Van Kalker John E RAF 2000 GTX SE (registry code 05607PQ, https://openairdocs.org/model/van-kalker-john-e-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: VAN KALKER JOHN E RAF 2000 GTX SE
- Reported engine: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 13,400 total, 450 in this make and model, 220 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11CA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA454) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110706012089A

## Narrative

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

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SET THE STUDENT PILOT  UP ON A LEFT DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 15 AT SNIDER'S FIELD ABOUT 1/8 MILE OUT FROM THE RUNWAY AND 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AT THIS POINT THE INSTRUCTOR REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, SIMULATING A FORCED LANDING. THE STUDENT SAW A LARGE BEAN FIELD TO THE RIGHT AND STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT FOR A SIMULATED EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE FIELD. THE INSTRUCTOR POINTED OUT THAT SNIDER FIELD AIRPORT AND RUNWAY 15 WAS JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE GYROPLANE. THE STUDENT THEN TURNED BACK LEFT TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND RUNWAY. THE GYROPLANE DID REACH THE RUNWAY FOR LANDING BUT AT SUCH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK AND LOW ENERGY STATE THAT THE MAIN ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND, AFT OF THE GYROPLANE, PRIOR TO THE LANDING GEAR. THE GYROPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED ON ITS LEFT SIDE.

## 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 CEN11CA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA454), Jul 6, 2011: Van Kalker John E RAF 2000 GTX SE (N25VK), Decker, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper landing flare, which resulted in the gyroplane's main rotor contacting the runway surface.

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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