# Accident 20150924016639A: Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX, Lake Wales, FL, September 24, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 24, 2015, 10:50 local time
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Airport: Lake Wales Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8939° N, 81.6206° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8939&lon=-81.6206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N179V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N179V-2016-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX (registry code 056041M, https://openairdocs.org/model/vanek-jim-sport-copter-vortex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582SER (registry code 55556, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANEK JIM SPORT COPTER VORTEX
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 330 total, 5 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA373](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA373) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150924016639A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DURING DEPARTURE CLIMB AND ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.  DURING A CLOSE IN LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EMERGENCY RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY IT BECAME APPARENT TO THE AIRMAN THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING.

THE AIRMAN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING JUST OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT FENCE IN A CONFINED AREA.  TO REDUCE FORWARD MOMENTUM AND AVOID CRASHING INTO AN EIGHT FOOT CHAIN LINK FENCE TOPPED WITH BARBWIRE THE AIRMAN EXECUTED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A QUICK STOP MANEUVER THAT RESULTED IN LOW MAIN ROTOR ENERGY AND A HARD LANDING.  THE HARD LANDING BROKE THE TAIL BOON.  THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED BY A GROUND STRIKE.  THE GYROPLANE TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE AFTER THE HARD LANDING AND BROKE THE MAIN ROTOR MAST.  THE MAIN ROTOR WAS DAMAGED BY A GROUND STRIKE.

INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT A PRIMER LINE, WHICH WAS HARDENED BY FUEL AND CRACKED, WAS LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUEL.  THE PRIMER LINE'S FAILURE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A RESULTANT OF THE CRASH.  THE PRIMER LINE WAS PLUMBED DIRECTLY FROM THE MAIN FUEL LINE THAT SUPPLYS FUEL TO THE CARBURETORS FROM THE FUEL TANK.  THE FAILURE OF THE PRIMER LINE MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINES LOSS OF POWER.

A REVIEW OF THE AIRMANS RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE AIRMAN APPEARED TO BE QUALIFIED TO ACT AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF THE GYROCOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS REVEALS THAT THE GYROCOPTER HAD A CURRENT CONDITION INSPECTION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

WEATHER WAS VFR WITH LIGHT WINDS AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A MATERIAL FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

THIS WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL ARMATURE BUILT AIRCRAFT BEING OPERATED AS A LIGHT SPORT 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 ERA15LA373](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA373), Sep 24, 2015: Vanek Jim Sport Copter Vortex (N179V), Lake Wales, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to a lean fuel/air mixture as a result of a disconnected fuel primer line.

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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