# NTSB ANC21LA004: AutoGyro MTO Sport, N455WM, Whitewater, KS, November 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 3, 2020, 13:41 local (19:41 UTC) - Place: Whitewater, KS - Coordinates: 37.934334, -97.069493 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9343&lon=-97.0695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102233 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102233/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102233 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA004 ## Probable cause A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Jim Faist MTO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05631BX), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Jim Faist MTO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05631BX), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jim Faist MTO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631BX), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the gyroplane was conducting a personal flight with one passenger. A witness about 6 miles from the accident site saw the gyroplane flying about 300 ft above ground level and stated that the engine sounded normal. Shortly thereafter, a local landowner observed smoke originating from a field and notified local authorities. There were no witnesses to the accident. The gyroplane was found nose-down in a field with the forward fuselage buried about 2 feet below the field’s surface, and the airframe was mostly consumed by a postcrash fire. A postaccident examination of the gyroplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; however, the examination was limited due to extensive thermal damage to the airframe and engine. While diminished reaction times and flying performance could occur from the pilot’s use of the sedating medication, diphenhydramine (as indicated by toxicology results), there was no blood concentration available. Therefore, whether the pilot was impaired by diphenhydramine at the time of the accident could not be determined. The gyroplane’s high-energy impact with the field is consistent with a loss of control; however, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative Review of the pilot’s logbook revealed that, during previous flights in the months before the accident, the pilot had reported “hog hunt,” recon of fields, and “off-airport.” Pictures supplied by the local law enforcement revealed that three pistols were found at the accident site with the wreckage. The pilot’s truck was located at 29KS with about 10 gallons of additional fuel located in gas cans in the trailer. The gyroplane was equipped with a nose gear wheel chassis, two-seat tandem configuration, and an extruded aluminum rotor. The rotor head was controlled with connecting rods and the rudder was controlled with cables and push-pull cables. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector who responded to the accident site, the gyroplane was equipped with standard flight gauges and no devices that contained nonvolatile memory. On November 3, 2020, about 1341 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built MTO Sport gyroplane, N455WM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Whitewater, Kansas. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from McMaster Gliderport (29KS), about 5 miles northeast of Wichita, Kansas. A witness, who was about 5.8 miles away from the accident site, stated that he saw a small green “helicopter type aircraft” as it flew in a southeast direction. According to the witness, the engine sounded normal, and the aircraft appeared to be flying above the tree line about 300 ft above the ground. The witness did not observe the accident sequence. A local landowner observed smoke originating from a field and notified local authorities, who responded to the accident site. There were no witnesses to the accident. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, Wichita, Kansas. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was ruled an accident. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on samples from the pilot. Ethanol and drugs of abuse were not detected. Meloxicam and atorvastatin were detected and were reported on the most recent medical exam (2017) and are acceptable for pilots. Diphenhydramine was also detected. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is a non-prescription antihistamine for treating seasonal allergies and can cause sedation. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) was also detected. The pilot, who was the owner of the aircraft, held a sport endorsement for gyroplane. The pilot’s logbook pages were supplied by the family, in which the pilot recorded about 44 hours total in a gyroplane; with 27.5 hours total time in the accident gyroplane. The pilot had completed the requirements for operation under BasicMed in December 2019. The gyroplane came to rest on a southerly heading in a nose-down attitude in a grass field at an elevation about 1,630 ft mean sea level. Theforward fuselage was buried about 2 feet below the field’s surface and the airframe was heavily consumed by postcrash fire. All the major pieces of the gyroplane were located at the accident site. A postaccident examination of the gyroplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N455WM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N455WM-2023-05-31), registration cancelled 2023-05-31, S/N M00834, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AutoGyro MTO Sport - Registry model: [Jim Faist MTO SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/jim-faist-mto-sport) (registry code 05631BX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M00834 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 788 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS Series reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 29KS, Wichita, KS - Airport: 29KS, Mcmaster Gliderport - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: fatal; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,563 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 19 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KEWK, 13 nm away - METAR: KEWK 030756Z AUTO 20009KT 10SM CLR 09/06 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP212 T00890056 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20201103015579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201103015579A), Nov 3, 2020: Jim Faist MTO SPORT, Whitewater, KS, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Approximately 13:45 local time on 11-3-2020, N455WM year/make- 2011 Jim Faist, model: Mto Sport, s/n M00834, experimental amateur built gyrocopter impacted the… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102233. 9.7 MB in all. - Witness statement (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 379 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12149928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20witness%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA roc (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12605691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ROC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA roc #2 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12149667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ROC%202-Rel.pdf - Roc (pilot's wife) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12149938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Next%20of%20Kin%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12149612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12149100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=maintenance_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weapons found at site (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12149687&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weapons%20found%20at%20site-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12606553&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12148318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.