# NTSB ATL00LA057: John Thomas Cloud Dancer 2, N6314T, Franklin, NC, May 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2000, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Franklin, NC - Coordinates: 35.187004, -83.388404 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1870&lon=-83.3884&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49335/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the gyroplane during takeoff roll, resulting in a roll over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The pilot was practicing landings on runway 7. After touching down during his first practice touch and go landing, he applied full power for takeoff and the gyroplane began to 'shimmy.' The gyroplane yawed to the left and departed the runway into the grass, then rolled over onto its left side. According to an engineering representative with the gyroplane's kit manufacturer, while performing a run-on landing, the gyroplane is unstable while on the main wheels due to the inertia of the rotor system. To maintain stability, the gyroplane should not have any forward momentum during landing and the nose wheel should be straightened out prior to touching down. According to a witness, the nose wheel was not straight when the gyroplane touched down. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2000, about 1115 eastern daylight time, a John Thomas Cloud Dancer 2 experimental gyroplane, N6314T, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during takeoff roll at Macon County Airport in Franklin, North Carolina. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at 1110. According to the pilot, he was practicing touch and go landings on runway 7. He maintained a final approach speed of 60 mph (the normal approach speed for the make and model of gyroplane). After touching down, he applied full power for takeoff and the gyroplane began to "shimmy." The gyroplane yawed to the left and departed the runway into the grass, then rolled over onto its left side. According to a witness, he observed the gyroplane touch down "without having the nose wheel straight." He stated that "the pilot then jerked the nose high, added power, the nose went higher... the rotor then caught the ground, the aircraft jerked toward the left and crashed off the runway. The aircraft came to rest on its left side with the tailboom's square tubing broken." The witness was an acquaintance of the pilot, and to the best of his knowledge, this was the first touch and go landing the pilot had ever performed in the gyroplane. According to an engineering representative with Rotory Air Force Marketing, Inc., the kit manufacturer of the gyroplane, while performing a touch and go landing, the gyroplane is unstable while on the main wheels due to the inertia of the rotor system. To maintain stability, the gyroplane should not have any forward momentum during landing and the nose wheel should be straightened out prior to touching down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6314T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6314T-2000-08-16), registration cancelled 2000-08-16, S/N 3843-1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: John Thomas CLOUD DANCER 2 (CLOUD DANC) - Registry model: [Thomas John CLOUD DANCER 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-john-cloud-dancer-2) (registry code 05607IX) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3843-1 - Airframe hours: 58 - Engines: Subaru EJ22 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John W. Thomas - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 1999, 58 hours before - Departed: 1A5, NC - Airport: 1A5, Macon County Airport, runway 7, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 58 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 45 nm away ## 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 20000526012919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000526012919A), May 26, 2000: Amtr RAF2000, Franklin, NC, No damage. (-23) On the touch down of what appeared to be a touch and go landing, a witness stated that the gyroplane did a severe "yaw jerk" when the nose tire touched… 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.