# NTSB ANC99LA048: Elam RAF 2000-GTX, N95WE, Palmer, AK, April 18, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 1999, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.619567, -148.979309 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6196&lon=-148.9793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA048 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, takeoff - initial climb - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The private pilot was departing on runway 15 in a gyroplane. He said that as the gyroplane climbed to about 400 feet above the runway, strong winds were encountered from the southeast. The pilot stated: 'I just could not keep it from sinking, and I had to put it down.' The pilot said that during a forced landing in an open field the gyroplane landed hard, and the fuselage and main rotor system sustained substantial damage. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating, and did not hold a rotorcraft-gyroplane rating. The pilot stated that he did obtain an instructor's logbook endorsement for solo flight in gyroplanes. The pilot reported that after the accident a bent and fractured cyclic control tube was found lying next to the gyroplane wreckage. The cyclic control tube was sent to the NTSB's Materials Laboratory for examination. A Safety Board metallurgist reported that the fracture surfaces exhibited features consistent with an overstress separation. He added that the fracture face was consistent with the direction of the tube bending. The closest official weather observation station is Palmer. On April 18, at 1153, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 170 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 1999, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped, experimental/homebuilt RAF 2000-GTX gyroplane, N95WE, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after takeoff from the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, Alaska. The gyroplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Palmer Municipal Airport, about 1220. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 20, the pilot reported that he was departing on runway 15. He said that as the gyroplane climbed to about 400 feet above the runway, strong winds were encountered from the southeast. The pilot stated: "I just could not keep it from sinking, and I had to put it down." The pilot said that during a forced landing in an open field, the gyroplane landed hard, and the fuselage and main rotor system sustained substantial damage. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating, and did not hold a rotorcraft-gyroplane rating. The pilot stated that he did obtain an instructor's logbook endorsement for solo flight in gyroplanes. On April 21, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, examined the gyroplane wreckage at the pilot's residence. The inspector reported that during his conversation with the pilot, it was reported that after the accident, a bent cyclic control tube was found lying next to the gyroplane wreckage. He said that the lower spherical rod end bearing had fractured across the threaded portion of the bearing assembly. The inspector added that the two remaining control tubes remained attached. The cyclic control tube was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory for examination. A Safety Board metallurgist reported that the fracture surfaces exhibited features consistent with an overstress separation. He added that the fracture face was consistent with the direction of the tube bending. The closest official weather observation station is located at the Palmer Municipal Airport. On April 18, at 1153, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 170 degrees (true) at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds, clear; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 35 degrees F; altimeter, 29.85 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95WE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95WE-2001-05-08), registration cancelled 2001-05-08, S/N H2-93-4-99 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Elam RAF 2000-GTX (RAF 2000-G) - Registry model: [Elam William R RAF 2000-GTX](https://openairdocs.org/model/elam-william-r-raf-2000-gtx) (registry code 05628SQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HS-93-4-99 - Airframe hours: 48 - Engines: Subaru EJ-22 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul J. Barry - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, February 23, 1998, 23 hours before - Airport: PAQ, Palmer Muni, runway 15, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 182 total, 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAQ ## 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 19990418003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990418003689A), Apr 18, 1999: Amtr RAF2000GTXSE, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Experimental RAF-2000-GTX gyrocopter lost lift on take-off and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on April 18, 1999, about… 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.