- Date
- August 17, 2009, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeville, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2107Dunn David RAF 2000 C
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-MSP-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090817049059A
- Case key
- 74584
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the landing flare.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While landing the gyroplane, the pilot stated that his "initial" flare at an altitude of 15 to 20 feet above the runway was normal. At 5 feet above the runway, the gyroplane ballooned and the pilot added power to recover. The gyroplane then yawed to the right. The pilot applied left rudder, but touchdown occurred prior to the gyroplane being aligned with the runway. The gyroplane's nose spun to the left when the main wheels touched down and the gyroplane rolled onto its right side.
Factual narrative
While landing the gyroplane, the pilot stated his "initial" flare at an altitude of 15 to 20 feet above the runway was normal. At 5 feet above the runway, the gyroplane ballooned and the pilot added power to recover. The gyroplane then yawed to the right. The pilot applied left rudder, but touchdown occurred prior to the gyroplane being aligned with the runway. The gyroplane's nose spun to the left when the main wheels touched down and the gyroplane rolled onto its right side.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2107
- Reported as
- Dunn David RAF 2000 C
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- DD-JL72404
- Airframe hours
- 127
- Engine
- Subaru EJ22, 130 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Christopher Awe
- Registered owner
- Christopher Awe
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 8, 2009
- Departed
- LVN · Lakeville, MN
- Destination
- LVN · Lakeville, MN
- Airport
- LVN · Airlake, runway 30, 4,098 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 28, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 102 total · 33 in this make and model · 39 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- LVN
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 663 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.