What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Statement from the pilot
Just after 1:00 pm I decided to leave the fly-in and taxied to take off on runway 34.
Weather was clear with strong winds from the north: 20 knots with gusts over 25.
I held short at 34 until an rv landed, then started to move, slowly, toward the center
Of the runway. Before turning right and positioning the gyro on the 34 centerline,
A strong gust tilted the gyro to the left enough for the rotor (it had just started the
Pre-rotation and was slowly turning at about 50 RPM) to hit the ground on my left side.
That generated the accident that, in about 3 seconds, damaged rotor, propeller,
Tail and other components. The gyro rested on the left side and I exited, after turning
The master switch off, from the right door, now above me.
I had no physical damage of any kind. Nobody else was effected.
No fire. No parts were thrown anywhere.
As the FAA filed it
STATEMENT FROM THE PILOT
JUST AFTER 1:00 PM I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE FLY-IN AND TAXIED TO TAKE OFF ON RUNWAY 34.
WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH STRONG WINDS FROM THE NORTH: 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS OVER 25.
I HELD SHORT AT 34 UNTIL AN RV LANDED, THEN STARTED TO MOVE, SLOWLY, TOWARD THE CENTER
OF THE RUNWAY. BEFORE TURNING RIGHT AND POSITIONING THE GYRO ON THE 34 CENTERLINE,
A STRONG GUST TILTED THE GYRO TO THE LEFT ENOUGH FOR THE ROTOR (IT HAD JUST STARTED THE
PRE-ROTATION AND WAS SLOWLY TURNING AT ABOUT 50 RPM) TO HIT THE GROUND ON MY LEFT SIDE.
THAT GENERATED THE ACCIDENT THAT, IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS, DAMAGED ROTOR, PROPELLER,
TAIL AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THE GYRO RESTED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND I EXITED, AFTER TURNING
THE MASTER SWITCH OFF, FROM THE RIGHT DOOR, NOW ABOVE ME.
I HAD NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE OF ANY KIND. NOBODY ELSE WAS EFFECTED.
NO FIRE. NO PARTS WERE THROWN ANYWHERE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.