# NTSB ATL92LA177: Air Command Commander, N4235X, Mars Hill, NC, September 4, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1992, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Mars Hill, NC
- Coordinates: 35.819023, -82.549995 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8190&lon=-82.5500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA177

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S PREMATURE ROTATION BEFORE SUFFICIENT ROTOR SPEED HAD BEEN ATTAINED TO SUPPORT FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH SOD AIRSTRIP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - roll/run
  - adequate rotor rpm - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vr) - premature, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A ROUGH, SOD, PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. BECAUSE OF THE ROUGHNESS, HE ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE PREMATURELY, BEFORE SUFFICIENT ROTOR SPEED HAD BEEN ATTAINED TO SUPPORT FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4235X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4235X-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR COMMAND COMMANDER
- Registry model: [Rhodes Colin S AIR COMMAND](https://openairdocs.org/model/rhodes-colin-s-air-command) (registry code 13027LM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Engines: ARROW 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rhodes, Colin S.
- Registered owner: Rhodes, Colin S.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: AVL
- Airport: NONE, Private

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 131 total, 40 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 25 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 19920904037409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920904037409A), Sep 4, 1992: Amtr COMMANDER503, Mars Hill, NC, Substantial damage. Early lift off due rough strip caused main rotors to strike propeller and subsequent crash. Rotor RPM too slow.

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.

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