# NTSB ATL97LA048: Bill Parson Parson 2+2, N254WP, Bunnell, FL, March 11, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 1997, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Bunnell, FL - Location: 29.4661° N, 81.2578° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bunnell, FL, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4661&lon=-81.2578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA048 ## Probable cause The owner/pilot mechanic's improper bending of the front flight control stick that resulted in an fatigue failure, and the subsequent loss of flight control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - flt control syst,yoke/control stick - failure,total (cause) - maintenance,adjustment - improper, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - flt control syst,yoke/control stick - overload (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot/owner of the gyrocopter had completed maintenance repairs on the gyrocopter prior to the attempted departure. The pilot made a bending adjustment to the front flight control stick and had reinstalled it into the front position. Since this gyrocopter was also used for training, and the student pilot station was the front, the pilot had placed a frangible stick in that position. The purpose of the frangible or 'soft stick,' was to enable the instructor pilot, seated in the rear, to override the control forces of the student. According to an eyewitness, the pilot climbed into the front seat and the passenger climbed into the rear seat. The witness watched the gyrocopter as it climbed to about the height of the trees, entered a left turn and disappeared out of sight. Seconds later the witness saw a large flame coming from the vicinity where the gyrocopter was last seen. An examination of the gyrocopter at the accident site disclosed that the front seat control stick was fractured; the control stick fracture faces exhibited features typical of a fatigue cracking. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 1997, at 1740 eastern standard time, a Bill Parson 2+2, gyrocopter, N254WP, collided with trees and burned on the departure end of runway 29 at the Flagler County Airport in Bunnell, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The gyrocopter was destroyed. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Bunnell, Florida, at 1738. Reportedly, the pilot/owner of the gyrocopter had completed maintenance repairs on the gyrocopter prior to the attempted departure. According to friends of the pilot, he had installed a set of experimental main rotor blades on the gyrocopter, and this was the second flight after the main rotor blades were installed. Additionally, the pilot made a bending adjustment to the front flight control stick and had reinstalled it into the front position. According to an associate of the pilot, the hollow aluminum stick or "soft stick" was placed in a vise where the pilot bent it. Since this gyrocopter was also used for training, and the student pilot station was the front seat, the pilot/owner installed a frangible stick in that position. The purpose of the frangible or "soft stick", was to enable the instructor pilot, seated in the rear, to override the control forces of the student. At 1730, the pilot returned from the first test flight at which time he was excited about the performance of the newly installed main rotor blades. According to a witness at the airport, the pilot told the passenger to get his helmet because they were going flying. Moments later, the pilot climbed into the front seat and the passenger climbed into the rear seat. They taxied to runway 29 for takeoff. The witness watched the gyrocopter as it climbed to about the height of the trees off the departure end of the runway. The witness continued to watch the gyrocopter as it entered a left turn, and began losing altitude. The gyrocopter descended below the tree tops and was out of sight for a moment. The gyrocopter climbed back into view for a moment and was next seen in the left turn with a nose down attitude. The gyrocopter disappeared from sight again; seconds later the witness saw a large flame coming from the vicinity where the gyrocopter was last seen. An examination of the gyrocopter at the accident site disclosed that the front seat control stick was fractured. According to the on-scene investigator, an FAA Airworthiness Inspector, the control stick fracture faces exhibited features typical of a fatigue cracking. The examination of the control stick also revealed that the fracture occurred in the vicinity of where it attached to the control column on the floor. A review of the aircraft maintenance logs failed to disclose the completion of recent maintenance or a current airframe condition/annual inspection. The pilot's flight logs were not recovered for examination. The autopsy was conducted on the pilot by Dr. Terrence Steiner at the Florida State Office of The Medical Examiner in St. Augustine, on March 13, 1997. The Toxicological examination of the pilot was negative for alcohol, but 18.300 (ug/ml, ug/g) of salicylate was detected in the urine sample. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N254WP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N254WP-2013-09-19), registration cancelled 2013-09-19, S/N 120 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BILL PARSON PARSON 2+2 - Registry model: [Parsons Bill PARSONS 2+2](https://openairdocs.org/model/parsons-bill-parsons-2-plus-2) (registry code 130016F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Arrow V8F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/arrow-v8f) (registry code 06001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Unknown, amateur-built - Serial number: 120 - Engines: Unknown reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William H. Parson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: X47 - Airport: X47, Flagler Counter Airport, runway 29, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 15 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 19970311003699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970311003699A), Mar 11, 1997: Amtr PARSON2+2, Bunnell, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck trees on climbout. Pilot mechanic had unsafe modified control stick failed. Using nitro for heart problem. (.4)the owner/pilot mechanic's improper… 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.