# NTSB CEN10CA528: Clem William B III Dominator Gyrocopter, N36MR, Brighton, CO, August 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2010, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Brighton, CO - Coordinates: 39.976387, -104.702774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9764&lon=-104.7028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA528 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77243/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77243 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA528 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyroplane during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Clem William B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05604F0), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Clem William B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05604F0), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Clem William B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05604F0), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Clem William B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05604F0), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Clem William B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05604F0), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was preparing to land his gyroplane when he encountered a downdraft, which increased his rate of descent. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent rate and landed hard. As a result the left main gear axle broke, causing the lower rudder strut to contact the ground. The strut bent upwards into the propeller, splintering the propeller and causing substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that the downdraft was caused by an 80-degree crosswind that blew over houses just to the northeast of the runway threshold. The pilot did not report any mechanical deficiencies with the gyroplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was preparing to land his gyroplane when he encountered a downdraft, which increased his rate of descent. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent rate and landed hard. As a result, the left main gear axle broke causing the lower rudder strut to contact the ground. The strut bent upwards into the propeller, splintering the propeller and causing substantial damage to approximately 12 inches of the 68-inch-long rudder. The pilot reported that the downdraft was caused by an 80-degree crosswind that blew over houses just to the northeast of the runway threshold. The pilot did not report any mechanical deficiencies with the gyroplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36MR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36MR-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N Y-001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CLEM WILLIAM B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER - Registry model: [Clem William B III DOMINATOR GYROCOPTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/clem-william-b-iii-dominator-gyrocopter) (registry code 05604F0) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane - Serial number: Y-001 - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Clem William B III - Registered owner: Clem William B III - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: C)12, Brighton, CO - Destination: C)12, Brighton, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: C)12, Brighton, runway 30 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 587 total, 468 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77243. 734 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 734 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.