# Accident 20170527010989A: Robert Hamblin AUTOGYRO GMBH CAVALO, Fort Worth, TX, May 27, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2017, 13:00 local time
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Airport: Bourland
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8058° N, 97.5425° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8058&lon=-97.5425&mi=10
- Aircraft: N721E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N721E-2020-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robert Hamblin AUTOGYRO GMBH CAVALO (registry code 05635NS, https://openairdocs.org/model/robert-hamblin-autogyro-gmbh-cavalo) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 914UL (registry code 55553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBERT HAMBLIN AUTOGYRO GMBH CAVALO
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 78 total, 78 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA308) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170527010989A

## Narrative

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

ON 5/27/2017 AT APROXIMATELY 1300 HRS PIC AND PASSENGER DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIR STRIP SOUTH OF BLUM TX. FLYING TO BOURLAND AIRPORT (50F). AS THEY ARRIVED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE AIRPORT AND  THE PASSENGER REQUESTED THAT THEY FLY OVER HIS HOUSE WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT TO TAKE PICTURES.  THE PILOT AGREED AND PROCEEDED TO THE HOUSE. THE PILOT STATED " IT WAS RIGHT AFTER LEAVING MY FRIENDS HOUSE THAT I NOTICED THE TREES ON THE GROUND GETTING CLOSER AT WHICH TIME I CHECKED THE ALTIMETER AND VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR WHICH SHOWED LEVEL FLIGHT. .  I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS SEEING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW AS THE TREES CONTINUED TO GET CLOSER AND YET MY VERTICAL SPEED AND ALTIMETER SHOWED LEVEL FLIGHT.  I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE SO I PULLED THE THROTTLE BACK AND SHOVED IT FULL FORWARD AGAIN AND NOTED THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE WAS RED LINED AND STILL I WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT BUT NOW MY AIRSPEED WAS STARTING TO DECAY.  I WAS STILL HEADING SOUTH AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRONG WHEN I DECIDED MAYBE THE WIND HAD SHIFTED SO I DECIDED I WOULD DO A 180 TURN AND HEAD BACK IN THE DIRECTION FROM WHICH WE CAME.  AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WE BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND I SAW WE WERE GOING TO HIT SOME TREE TOPS AND NOT MAKE A CLEARING JUST BEYOND SO I TRIED TO PUT THE CABIN BETWEEN TWO SMALL LIVE OAK TREES FIGURING THE ROTORS WOULD TAKE THE HIT AND WE WOULD JUST DROP TO THE GROUND."

## 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 GAA17CA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA308), May 27, 2017: Robert Hamblin Autogyro Gmbh Cavalo (N721E), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain.

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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