# NTSB CEN12CA226: Ruiz E RAF 2000, N9012R, Anahuac, TX, March 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 31, 2012, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Anahuac, TX - Coordinates: 29.771667, -94.66333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7717&lon=-94.6633&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA226 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper nosewheel and cyclic positioning during the taxi, which resulted in the gyroplane's main rotor contacting the runway surface. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Towing and taxiing: taxiing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ruiz E RAF 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md?model=05610HB), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ruiz E RAF 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05610HB), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ruiz E RAF 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05610HB), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ruiz E RAF 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05610HB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot and flight instructor were practicing takeoffs, flight maneuvers, and landings in the student pilot's gyroplane. After landing on the runway with a right crosswind, the student pilot attempted to taxi the gyroplane back to the hangar. During the taxi forward, the gyroplane began to roll to the right and the rotor blades contacted the runway. The student pilot stated that the nosewheel and cyclic positions at the time of the forward taxi were likely the reasons for the roll to the right; this statement was consistent with the student pilot not repositioning the nosewheel and cyclic after the landing to a safe taxi position. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The student pilot and flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The student pilot and flight instructor were practicing some takeoffs, flight maneuvers, and landings in the student pilot's gyroplane. After landing on the runway with a right crosswind, the student pilot attempted to taxi the gyroplane back to the hangar. During the taxi forward, the gyroplane began to roll to the right and the rotor blades contacted the runway. The student pilot felt the nose wheel and cyclic positions at the time of the forward taxi were the reasons for the roll to the right. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The student pilot and flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9012R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9012R-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N H2-99-10-436, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RUIZ E RAF 2000 - Registry model: [Ruiz E RAF 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/ruiz-e-raf-2000) (registry code 05610HB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: H2-99-10-436 - Airframe hours: 97 - Engines: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: On File - Registered owner: On File - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: T00, Anahuac, TX - Destination: T00, Anahuac, TX - Airport: T00, Chambers County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: HOU, 33 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 20120331005519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120331005519A), Mar 31, 2012: Ruiz E RAF 2000, Anahuac, TX, Substantial damage. On March 31, 2012 N9012R was on a training flight at Chambers County Airport in Anahuac Texas. [privacy data omitted] Was the flight instructor, and [privacy… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83297. 80 KB in all. - Student Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-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.