What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 20, 2023, at approximately 1530 eastern standard time, a registered gyrocopter, privacy data omitted, a summit 23, serial number 9203,was on approach for landing at Wauchula Municipal Airport (kchn), Florida. The certificated pilot was the sole person onboard and sustained no injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
A normal landing approach to runway 36 was performed. As aircraft was approaching touchdown, pilot stated that he realized that he flared too high (approximately 3 feet), resulting in a hard touchdown with left wheel low. This began a series of subsequent left and right wheel bounces, ultimately resulting in the aircraft laying on it's side. A written statement provided by the pilot stated that he was fully aware of his mistake.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 20, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A REGISTERED GYROCOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A SUMMIT 23, SERIAL NUMBER 9203,WAS ON APPROACH FOR LANDING AT WAUCHULA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KCHN), FLORIDA. THE CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS THE SOLE PERSON ONBOARD AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
A NORMAL LANDING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 36 WAS PERFORMED. AS AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING TOUCHDOWN, PILOT STATED THAT HE REALIZED THAT HE FLARED TOO HIGH (APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET), RESULTING IN A HARD TOUCHDOWN WITH LEFT WHEEL LOW. THIS BEGAN A SERIES OF SUBSEQUENT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL BOUNCES, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT LAYING ON IT'S SIDE. A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED BY THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FULLY AWARE OF HIS MISTAKE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.