20231016017539A

ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 16, 2023 THE PILOT FUELED UP THREE 5-GALLON FUEL CONTAINERS AT THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (GAS STATION) ON THE CORNER OF MAIN AND WALNUT IN JACKSONVILLE, IL (NEAR THE JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT [IJX]) TO FUEL HIS GYROCOPTER FOR A FLIGHT THAT MORNING. THE PILOT TOPPED OFF HIS GYROCOPTER AND FLEW TO MOUNT STERLING (I63) TO PICK UP A PASSENGER FOR A FUN FLIGHT IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 44 MINUTES TO MOUNT STERLING AIRPORT. THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH A PASSENGER AROUND 1245-1250. AT 1315 LOCAL TIME, A 911 CALL CAME IN, AND A POLICE OFFICER WAS DISPATCHED TO THE AREA.

AT APPROXIMATEL1545, THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER CALLED THE SPRINGFIELD FSDO ABOUT HIS ACCIDENT. THE GYROCOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WALK AWAY. WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS REPORTING WIND AT 320 AT 08 KNOTS, 10 STATUTE MILES VISIBILITY, CLEAR SKIES, TEMPERATURE 07 WITH A DEW POINT OF 05, ALTIMETER OF 30.15. THE PILOT’S STATEMENT INDICATED THAT AS HE WAS FLYING OVER MIDFIELD TO ENTER A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 36 AT MOUNT STERLING AND WHEN HE REDUCED HIS POWER FOR LANDING, HE LOST POWER AND STARTED TO GO DOWN. HE STATED HIS LAST AIRSPEED READING WAS 37 MPH AND THEN WE HIT THE GROUND. ON OCTOBER 19, 2023, THE INSPECTOR ASKED THE PILOT FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE POWER AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT LOSE ALL POWER BUT WAS BEHIND THE POWER CURVE HE THEN STATED THAT HE DID NOT LOSE ALL POWER BUT MAY HAVE BEEN IN A CONTROLLED DESCENT, BUT HE IS NOT SURE AS EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST. PILOT STATED HE HAD AT LEAST 7 TO 10 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PILOT EXPLAINED HE TOPPED IT OFF IN JACKSONVILLE, IL AND FLEW TO MOUNT STERLING WHICH WAS 45 MINUTES. THEN STATED HE FLEW FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES AFTER PICKING UP A PASSENGER BEFORE RETURNING TO MOUNT STERLING AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CAN FLY 4 HOURS WHEN TOPPED OFF SO HE SHOULD HAVE HAD 7 TO 10 GALLONS LEFT ON BOARD OR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND 45 MIN REMAINING.

PASSENGER STATEMENT INDICATED THAT AFTER CROSSING OVER THE AIRPORT THE PILOT STARTED TO FIGHT THE AIRCRAFT AND STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING DOWN. THEY IMPACTED THE GROUND AND HE STATED THAT HE HIT HIS HEAD AND SHOULDER AND THE PILOT WAS ON TOP OF HIM. THE PILOT CLIMBED OUT AND INITIALLY HE STRUGGLED TO GET HIS SEAT BELT OFF. THE PILOT CAME BACK, AND THEY TRIED TO GET HIS SEAT BELT OFF AND WHEN THEY FINALLY UNCLIPPED, HE FELL A LITTLE WAY AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DROVE TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL TO HAVE THEM CHECKED MEDICALLY AND EVALUATED FOR ANY ISSUES THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. NO BROKEN BONES FOUND. THE PASSENGER STATED THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN ENGINE SOUND THAT HE COULD TELL BEFORE THEY CAME DOWN. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT STARTED TO FIGHT THE CONTROLS AND THEN STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING DOWN.

INSPECTOR TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE CRASH SITE AND INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE GYROCOPTER WAS LEANING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, BLOCKING ACCESS TO THE FUEL CAP. AFTER TURNING THE AIRCRAFT BACK UP ON ITS WHEELS AND EXAMINING THE FUEL CAP THERE WAS AN ORANGE PLASTIC SUBSTANCE THAT WAS AROUND THE CAP THAT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD MELTED OFF. ONCE THE GAS CAP WAS REMOVED THIS ORANGE SUBSTANCE FELL TO THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE TANK. TRYING TO SUMP THE TANK (LOWEST PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM), ZERO FUEL CAME OUT. THE GROUND WHERE THE FUEL CAP HAD BEEN RESTING DID LOOK LIKE IT WAS WET, AND A STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE.

THE ENGINE WAS A ROTAX, MODEL NUMBER 914UL. THE MAIN ROTOR HAD ONE BLADE THAT LOOKED UNDAMAGED, AND THE OTHER BLADE WAS BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND DID NOT SLIDE OR MOVE ONCE IMPACTING THE GROUND.