# NTSB ATL02LA147: Aurandt Rotor Horse, Cape Coral, FL, July 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2002, 11:02 local (15:02 UTC) - Place: Cape Coral, FL - Coordinates: 26.580938, -81.939758 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5809&lon=-81.9398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Tampa FSDO -35 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55376/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55376 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA147 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - residential area ## Analysis The gyrocopter lost engine power during cruise at 1,200 feet. During the emergency landing in a residential area, the student pilot initiated a flare about 20 feet above the ground to stop forward airspeed to avoid obstacles. The aircraft dropped vertically and landed hard on its gear. Examination revealed the nose wheel was bent aft, the main gear struts were spread outward, and support structures for the tail were broken. An engine examination was not performed, because the owner removed it and stated it was unavailable. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2002, at 1102 eastern daylight time, an Aurandt Rotor Horse unregistered experimental gyrocopter, owned and operated by the student pilot, landed hard following a loss of engine power in Cape Coral, Florida. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The student pilot reported no injuries, and the gyrocopter sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed a residential yard in Cape Coral, Florida, at 0930 on July 28, 2002. The student pilot stated the gyrocopter lost engine power during cruise flight at 1,200 feet. The student pilot selected a 300-foot by 180-foot vacant lot in a residential area for an emergency landing. The emergency landing area was surrounded by homes and power lines. During the descent, the student pilot initiated a landing flare about 20 feet above the ground. As the student pilot attempted to decelerate and maneuver to avoid a collision with an obstacle, the gyrocopter dropped vertically and collided with the ground. The two-seat gyrocopter was an, unregistered aircraft painted with the registration number N6117B. N6117B was previously registered, as an Ashton Rotor Horse, but N6117B registration was cancelled on October 3, 2001, after the Ashton Rotor Horse was destroyed. The on-site examination of the gyrocopter revealed the nose wheel was bent aft, the main landing gear struts were spread outward, support struts for the tail were broken and portion of the tail assembly sustained crush damage. During a follow-up examination, the student pilot reported that he had removed the engine and it was not available for further examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Aurandt Rotor Horse - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: STA-1 - Airframe hours: 60 - Engines: Hirth F30 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kevin D. Aurandt - Departed: Cape Coral, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 105 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: RSW, 10 nm away ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55376. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464627&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Cape Coral Police Department Report (item 2, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464628&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cape%20Coral%20Police%20Department%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Side view (item 4, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183018&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Side%20view-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Rear view (item 5, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Rear%20view-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Broken tail assembly support (item 6, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Broken%20tail%20assembly%20support-Master.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.