# NTSB CEN12CA464: Bertram William J Bertram 2000, N115WB, Shiocton, WI, July 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2012, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Shiocton, WI - Coordinates: 44.454444, -88.561668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4544&lon=-88.5617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MKE-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA464 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84401/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84401 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA464 ## Probable cause The pilot’s distraction with taking photographs, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid the guy wire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=05622OL), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=05622OL), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05622OL), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05622OL), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05622OL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the gyrocopter reported that he was taking aerial photos of the airport. He stated he was flying toward the airport and trying to take photos when he realized he was getting too close to the airport. He initiated a turn downwind away from the airport at which time the gyrocopter lost altitude. The lower right side of the fuselage and the right landing gear strut contacted a guy wire attached to a utility pole alongside the highway that bordered the south side of the airport. The gyrocopter then descended, impacted terrain, and came to rest in a ditch alongside the highway, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical tail surfaces and the main rotor blades. The pilot stated that he was distracted by trying to use the camera and that he was not paying attention to the surroundings when the accident occurred. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported he was taking aerial photos of the airport where he is based out of, as they were hosting a fly-in. He stated he was flying toward the airport and trying to take photos when he realized he was getting too close to the airport. He initiated a turn downwind away from the airport, at which time the gyrocopter lost altitude. The lower right side of the fuselage and the right landing gear strut contacted a guy wire attached to a utility pole alongside the highway which bordered the south side of the airport. The gyrocopter then descended to the terrain and came to rest in a ditch alongside the highway substantially damaging the vertical tail surfaces, and the main rotor blades. The pilot stated that he was distracted by trying to use the camera and that he was not paying attention to the surroundings when the accident occurred. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N115WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115WB-2014-03-05), registration cancelled 2014-03-05, S/N H2 06 17 673, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BERTRAM WILLIAM J BERTRAM 2000 - Registry model: [Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/bertram-william-j-bertram-2000) (registry code 05622OL) (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 06 17 673 - Airframe hours: 600 - Engines: SUBARU J 2.5 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William J. Bertram - Registered owner: Bertram Forest System LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 27, 2011, 65 hours before - Departed: W34, Schiocton, WI - Destination: W34, Schiocton, WI - Airport: W34, shiocton ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 1,197 total, 500 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: ATW, 14 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 20120721014459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120721014459A), Jul 21, 2012: Bertram William J BERTRAM 2000, Shiocton, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot was operating aircraft near Shiocton Airport flying approximately west, parrallel to hwy 54 and east of mack road. Aircraft impacted a power line support… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84401. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 551 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Outagamie County Sheriff's Department Report (item 3, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Outagamie%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20Report-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.