20180305001459A

On March 5, 2018, about 0935 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Autogyro Calidus gyroplane, N221YT, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the initial climb from Beaufort County Airport (arw), Beaufort, south carolina. The private pilot was fatally injured. The gyroplane was operated by the private pilot as a local personal flight conducted under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed arw about 0932.

According to a witness that worked at the airport, the pilot of the gyroplane made a radio transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency that he was taking off on runway 25. The witness observed the gyroplane takeoff and climb to about 75 ft above ground level about halfway down the 3,434-FT-long runway. The gyroplane was climbing slowly, and everything appeared normal. The witness did not continue to look at the gyroplane; however, the pilot made another routine transmission at 0933. At 0937, the witness received a telephone call that the gyroplane had crashed near the departure end of runway 25 at 0935. The caller reported to the witness that the gyroplane was low over a field when it rolled inverted and impacted a marsh.

Another witness was driving his car near the departure end of runway 25. He stated that the gyroplane climbed from the runway and flew over a road at the departure end. At that time, it appeared to be flying straight. About 10 seconds later, the gyroplane reversed direction and seemed to be flying back toward the departure end of the runway. The gyroplane was flying erratically and looked like it was doing "tricks." Specifically, the nose pitched up, down, left and right. It then flew over the road again in a reverse direction and was nearing the runway when the nose pitched up and the gyroplane rolled inverted and impacted the ground.

Examination of the wreckage by a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed that it came to rest on its right side, north of the departure end of runway 25. There was no debris path noted and the fiberglass cockpit and engine enclosures were destroyed. The nose section, with nose landing gear attached, had separated from the fuselage, but all associated cables remained attached. The main landing gear was partially collapsed. The tailboom was twisted and canted to the left of the fuselage, with its horizontal stabilizer bent upward. All three propeller blades were fractured. One main rotor blade separated from the hub. The other main rotor blade remained attached to the hub; however, the outer section of that blade separated. One fuel tank was breached during impact and fuel had leaked out. The other fuel tank remained intact and about 5 gallons of fuel was drained from that tank. No water or other contamination appeared in the fuel. The engine remained intact and attached to its mounts.

Two FAA inspectors examined the wreckage on a second occasion, after it was recovered to a hangar. Due to the disposition of the wreckage, they were able to rotate the propeller approximately 90°. No binding was noted and continuity through the engine was observed. The gyroplane's flight controls consisted of push-pull tubes that sustained impact damage; however, no evidence of a lack of flight control continuity was observed.

The two-seat tandem, fixed tricycle gear, composite gyroplane was assembled from a kit and issued an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate in 2015. It was powered by a Rotax 912ULS, 100-horsepower engine, equipped with an htc three-blade, ground adjustable, composite pusher propeller and two-blade aluminum rotor. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the gyroplane's most recent condition inspection was completed on April 22, 2017.