# Accident 20111007023459A: Jerald H Wilhelm CALIDUS, Thompsonville, MI, October 7, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 7, 2011, 10:50 local time
- Place: Thompsonville, MI
- Airport: Thompsonville
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.5167° N, 85.9753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5167&lon=-85.9753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N455BW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N455BW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Jerald H Wilhelm CALIDUS (registry code 056309Y, https://openairdocs.org/model/jerald-h-wilhelm-calidus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JERALD H WILHELM CALIDUS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 704 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111007023459A

## Narrative

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

THIS FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOR THIS AIRCRAFT.  PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPED DEPARTURE TWICE BEFORE ACTUAL TAKEOFF.  IN EACH OF THE PRIOR ATTEMPTS, THE ROTOR WOULD NOT PRE-ROTATE.  THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY AJUSTING A MICRO-SWITCH IN AFT SEAT. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 27 FOR A LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN.  UPON TAKEOFF PILOT NOTED "TIGHT CONTROL FEEL."  AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THE PILOT NEEDED FULL LEFT STICK TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT.  HE EXECUTED LEFT TURNS WITH RUDDER.  UPON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH ONLY RIGHT MAIN WHEEL ON RUNWAY.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOWER LEFT SIDE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT OFF THE RUNWAY AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.  THE CONTROL MIXING UNIT UNDER PILOT SEAT WILL BE INSPECTED.

## 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 CEN12LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA013), Oct 7, 2011: Wilhelm Calidus (N455BW), Thompsonville, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot 's inability to maintain control of the gyrocraft during the landing roll for undetermined reasons.

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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