20220323004089A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Chris Chen CAVALON · Elmonte, CA · March 23, 2022

Date: March 23, 2022 · 11:45 local
Place: Elmonte, CA
Airport: Brackett Field
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1688B
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR22LA134
Reported as: Chris Chen Cavalon
Reported engine: ROTAX 914 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 471 total169 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days

N1688BRegistered now · Chris Chen CAVALONS/N V00123 · Built 2013 Airframe modelChris Chen CAVALON Engine modelRotax 914 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At 1145 PDT on 3/23/2022, N1688B, Cavalon gyro copter, experienced a hard landing followed by a rotor strike on runway 19 at el monte (EMT) airport. The aircraft came to rest on its side on the right side of runway 19. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. There was one person on board, theprivacy data omitted who sustained minor injuries (lacerations on hands and elbow). There were no injuries to persons on the ground. The PIC stated his attention was focused on the main rotor RPM just prior to touchdown, and that this accident was preventable, and was due to his negligence, written statement provided. There were no mechanical issues.

As the FAA filed it

AT 1145 PDT ON 3/23/2022, N1688B, CAVALON GYRO COPTER, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING FOLLOWED BY A ROTOR STRIKE ON RUNWAY 19 AT EL MONTE (EMT) AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 19. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THERE WAS ONE PERSON ON BOARD, THE^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WHO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (LACERATIONS ON HANDS AND ELBOW). THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PERSONS ON THE GROUND. THE PIC STATED HIS ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE MAIN ROTOR RPM JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, AND THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS PREVENTABLE, AND WAS DUE TO HIS NEGLIGENCE, WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR22LA134Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEl Monte, CAThe pilot’s diverted attention during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.Mar 23, 2022 · Substantial damage