# Accident 20141004018009A: Celier Aviation XENON R, Fruita, CO, October 4, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 4, 2014, 18:15 local time
- Place: Fruita, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1958° N, 108.8131° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1958&lon=-108.8131&mi=10
- Aircraft: N719MB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N719MB-2018-03-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Celier XENON R (registry code 05904KF, https://openairdocs.org/model/celier-xenon-r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CELIER AVIATION XENON R
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912S
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,303 total, 246 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141004018009A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 4, 2014, MR. SHOOK WAS GIVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS RIDES IN HIS GYROCOPTER.  HE STATED TO ONE THAT HE NEEDED TO STAY A BIT HIGHER ABOVE THE RIVER IN THE AREA DUE TO THE FREQUENT POWER LINES THAT CROSS THE RIVER.  WHILE MR. SHOOK WAS FLYING A PASSENGER HE APPARENTLY GOT TOO LOW AND/OR DIDN'T SEE A SET OF POWER LINES.  IT APPEARS THAT THE GYROCOPTER HIT ONE OF A GROUP OF FOUR POWER LINES NEAR MILE MARKER 18 (I-70) WHICH APPEAR TO BE APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER.  THE IMPACT STRUCK THE MAST SUPPORT SHEARING OFF THE MAIN ROTOR AND THE CONTROL CABLES. THE GYROCOPTER IMMEDIATELY CRASHED INTO THE RIVER IN A NOSE DOWN AND SLIGHTLY INVERTED TRAJECTORY.  THE PILOT DIED OF TRAUMA AND THE PASSENGER DROWNED.  WITNESSES WERE ABLE  TO GET THE AIRCRAFT WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES AND WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE PILOT.  A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED DOWNSTREAM UNTIL IT NEARED A SANDBAR WHERE IT STOPPED DRIFTING AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE PILOT.  THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE HAD TO CUT THROUGH THE SEAT BELT TO REMOVE PILOT FROM THE SEAT.  THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE PASSENGER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOSTLY SUBMERGED.  SEARCH AND RESCUE ARRIVED AND RETRIEVED THE PASSENGER FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN15LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA004), Oct 5, 2014: Celier Xenon R (N719MB), Loma, CO, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire and his decision to maneuver the gyroplane at low altitude.

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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