What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was doing pattern work in recently built gyroplane. Winds exceeded crosswind limitation specified by flight instructor in pilot's logbook. Winds were 30 degrees differential at 14 gusting 20 knots. His limitation was 9 knots. The limitation did not stipulate this limitation as a crosswind limitation.
Pilot landed with a side load and went into the grass along edge of runway. Pilot got the aircraft back on runway and began another takeoff roll. Pilot attempted to rotate but due to either low main rotor RPM or a flat blade angle, the main rotor blades struck the runway behind aircraft numerous times, shearing off two feet or so of the main rotor. The aircraft became unstable and veered off the runway, coming to rest on its side. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS DOING PATTERN WORK IN RECENTLY BUILT GYROPLANE. WINDS EXCEEDED CROSSWIND LIMITATION SPECIFIED BY FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN PILOT'S LOGBOOK. WINDS WERE 30 DEGREES DIFFERENTIAL AT 14 GUSTING 20 KNOTS. HIS LIMITATION WAS 9 KNOTS. THE LIMITATION DID NOT STIPULATE THIS LIMITATION AS A CROSSWIND LIMITATION.
PILOT LANDED WITH A SIDE LOAD AND WENT INTO THE GRASS ALONG EDGE OF RUNWAY. PILOT GOT THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON RUNWAY AND BEGAN ANOTHER TAKEOFF ROLL. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE BUT DUE TO EITHER LOW MAIN ROTOR RPM OR A FLAT BLADE ANGLE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE RUNWAY BEHIND AIRCRAFT NUMEROUS TIMES, SHEARING OFF TWO FEET OR SO OF THE MAIN ROTOR. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNSTABLE AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, COMING TO REST ON ITS SIDE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.