- Date
- May 14, 2011, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Scott, LA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- UNREGReed Roderick KB3 Gyroplane
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 79100
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 poor decision to takeoff with a tailwind which resulted in a runway excursion.
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
According to the pilot he was taking off from a private grass strip with a tailwind. Approximately half way down the runway the gyroplane became airborne. He looked down to check his engine instruments, and when he looked back up he was approaching the end of the runway and a fence line. He was unable to maneuver over the fence and the gyroplane impacted the top of the fence line. The gyroplane's fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He said he was aware of the tailwind conditions.
Factual narrative
According to a statement obtained from the pilot by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot was attempting to depart a private grass strip with a tailwind. Approximately half way down the runway the gyroplane became airborne. The pilot looked down to check his engine instruments, and when he looked back up he was quickly approaching the end of the runway and a fence line. The pilot was unable to maneuver over the fence and the gyroplane impacted the top of the fence line. The gyroplane's fueslage was substantially damaged. He did not report any preimpact anomalies, and attributed inattention for his descent and collision with the fence. The pilot added that he was aware of the tailwind conditions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Reed Roderick KB3 Gyroplane
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- REED307D
- Engine
- Rotax 912UL, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Departed
- Scott, LA
- Destination
- Scott, LA
- Airport
- N/A · Private strip, runway 18, 900 × ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 2,100 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KLFT, 9 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 52 KB in all.