# Accident 20121020028999A: William D Hunthrop AUTOGYRO MTO SPORT, Cresson, TX, October 20, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 2012, 10:46 local time
- Place: Cresson, TX
- Airport: Bourland Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5819° N, 97.5908° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5819&lon=-97.5908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N589DH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N589DH-2018-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: William D Hunthrop AUTOGYRO MTO SPORT (registry code 056316W, https://openairdocs.org/model/william-d-hunthrop-autogyro-mto-sport) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WILLIAM D HUNTHROP AUTOGYRO MTO SPORT
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 11 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA017) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121020028999A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN13CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA017), Oct 20, 2012: Hunthrop Autogyro MTO Sport (N589DH), Bourland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly the gyroplane in gusty wind conditions that exceeded his limitations and his resultant loss of control during takeoff.

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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