# Accident 20180129000209A: Sport Copter, Inc SPORT COPTER II, Van Nuys, CA, January 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 2018, 11:17 local time
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Airport: Van Nuys
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2097° N, 118.4900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2097&lon=-118.4900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N767LW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N767LW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wayne Miller SPORT COPTER II (registry code 056349A, https://openairdocs.org/model/wayne-miller-sport-copter-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360 series (registry code 41881, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPORT COPTER, INC SPORT COPTER II
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180129000209A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT INITIATED TAKEOFF ROLL IN GUSTY CONDITIONS.  PRIOR TO BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE ROTOR BLADES STARTED TO FLAP.  PILOT RESPONDED BY PUSHING THE STICK FORWARD.  THE AIRCRAFT VEERED AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT.  THE ROTOR CONTACTED THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK THE PUSHER PROPELLER BLADES.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE GRASS BETWEEN RUNWAYS 34L AND 34R.

## 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 GAA18CA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA114), Jan 29, 2018: Wayne Miller Sport Copter II (N767LW), Van Nuys, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to takeoff in gusting wind conditions with insufficient rotor rpm.

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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