# NTSB CEN12CA416: Michael A Howard Dominator, N447PM, Omaha, NE, June 28, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 28, 2012, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Omaha, NE - Coordinates: 41.195835, -96.11222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1958&lon=-96.1122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA416 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84165/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84165 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA416 ## Probable cause A nosewheel shimmy on takeoff, which resulted in the failure of the nosewheel landing gear and a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Michael A Howard DOMINATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=05630V3), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Michael A Howard DOMINATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05630V3), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Michael A Howard DOMINATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05630V3), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Michael A Howard DOMINATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05630V3), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who was also the builder, was conducting flight testing on the newly built gyrocopter. He reported that he spun the rotor up to about 110 rpm and was attempting to accelerate the rotor to flight rpm by moving down the runway. The pilot added that he was going about 25 mph when the nosewheel hit a bump in the runway and started to shimmy. He immediately reduced the throttle to slow down; however, the nosewheel strut failed, and the gyrocopter turned left, rolled over, and came to rest on its right side. During the rollover, the rotor blades and fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who was also the builder, was conducting testing on the newly built gyrocopter. He reported that he spun the rotor up to approximately 110 rpm and was attempting to accelerate the rotor to flight rpm, by going down the runway. The pilot added that he was going about 25 mph when the nosewheel hit a bump in the runway and started to shimmy. He immediately reduced the throttle to slow down; however, the nosewheel strut failed, the craft turned left, and came to rest on its right side. During the rollover, the rotor and fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N447PM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N447PM-2012-09-25), registration cancelled 2012-09-25, S/N 4, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MICHAEL A HOWARD DOMINATOR - Registry model: [Michael A Howard DOMINATOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-a-howard-dominator) (registry code 05630V3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Rotax UL582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Howard Michael A - Registered owner: Howard Michael A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KMLE, Omaha, NE - Destination: KMLE, Omaha, NE - Airport: KMLE, Millard Airport, runway 12, 3,801 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2010; seat: center; flight hours: 3,132 total, 1 in this make and model, 3,132 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KMLE ## 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 20120628013109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120628013109A), Jun 28, 2012: Michael A Howard DOMINATOR, Omaha, NE, Substantial damage. The pilot, [privacy data omitted] was intending to perform a touch and go on runway 12, at an estimated 25 mph the nose wheel shimmied to the point it broke… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84165. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo: N447PM (item 3, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20N447PM-Master.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.