# NTSB ATL05CA141: Therrien Roger Vortex, N42923, Lawrenceburg, TN, August 6, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2005, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceburg, TN
- Coordinates: 35.233333, -87.25
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2333&lon=-87.2500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: NASHVILLE FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62414
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62414/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA141

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper  landing flair, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing taxiing the homebuilt gyrocopter and unintentionally took-off but decided to stay in flight.  When the pilot was preparing to land he descended the gyrocopter steeply towards runway 35.  The pilot pulled back on the "stick" to flare out, and stated that the gyrocopter did not respond.  The aircraft nosed into the ground.  Examination of the accident site revealed the gyrocopter laying on its left side.  The main rotor mast was separated from its base, the forward and left main landing gear collapsed and the cockpit roof was detached.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the gyrocopter prior to flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was practicing taxiing the homebuilt gyrocopter and unintentionally took-off but decided to stay in flight.  When the pilot was preparing to land he descended the gyrocopter steeply towards runway 35.  The pilot pulled back on the "stick" to flare out, and stated that the gyrocopter did not respond.  The aircraft nosed into the ground.  Examination of the accident site revealed the gyrocopter laying on its left side.  The main rotor mast was separated from its base, the forward and left main landing gear collapsed and the cockpit roof was detached.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the gyrocopter prior to flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42923](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42923-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 066, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Therrien Roger VORTEX
- Registry model: [Therrien Roger N JR VORTEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/therrien-roger-n-jr-vortex) (registry code 05618RR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane
- Serial number: 066
- Airframe hours: 0.25
- Engines: Rotax 582 67 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roger N. Therrien Jr.
- Registered owner: Roger Therrien
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005, 0 hours before
- Departed: 2M2, Lawrenceburg, TN
- Destination: 2M2, Lawrenceburg, TN
- Airport: 2M2, Lawrenceburg County Airport, runway 35, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2003; seat: single; flight hours: 32 total, 12 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: MDQ

## 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 20050806017629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050806017629A), Aug 6, 2005: Amtr VORTEX, Lawrenceburg, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] had just built the gyrocopter and this was the initial flight. He stalled the aircraft on the approach to landing.

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.