20150204001919A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · David L King Calidus · Crozet, VA · February 4, 2015

Date
February 4, 2015 · 13:54 local
Place
Crozet, VA
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N595X
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA15CA121
Reported as
David L King Calidus
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
710 total30 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot initiated take off roll. As gyroplane accelerated and reached about 25 to 30 knots it began to shake violently. After 2 to 3 seconds the pilot lost control and the gyroplane rolled over onto the left side.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT INITIATED TAKE OFF ROLL. AS GYROPLANE ACCELERATED AND REACHED ABOUT 25 TO 30 KNOTS IT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AFTER 2 TO 3 SECONDS THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE GYROPLANE ROLLED OVER ONTO THE LEFT SIDE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.