# NTSB CEN14CA059: Groen Sparrowhawk II, N130SW, Lubbock, TX, November 10, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 10, 2013, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Lubbock, TX
- Coordinates: 33.485553, -101.812774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4856&lon=-101.8128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88440/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88440
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA059

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain a proper glidepath for landing which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Waterman Steven L SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056217C), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waterman Steven L SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056217C), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Waterman Steven L SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056217C), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Waterman Steven L SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056217C), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the gyroplane was too high and too slow during the landing approach. The gyroplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the tail boom. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the gyroplane before the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the gyroplane was too high and too slow during the landing approach. The gyroplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the tail boom. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the gyroplane before the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N130SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N130SW-2018-03-09), registration cancelled 2018-03-09, S/N S0200010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GROEN SPARROWHAWK II
- Registry model: [Waterman Steven L SPARROWHAWK II](https://openairdocs.org/model/waterman-steven-l-sparrowhawk-ii) (registry code 056217C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: S0200010
- Year built: 2007
- Engines: SUBARU EJ2.5 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Glenn Davis
- Registered owner: Glenn Davis
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 2013, 1,123 hours before
- Departed: F49, Slaton, TX
- Destination: F82, Lubbock, TX
- Airport: F82, Lubbock Executive, runway 17, 3,500 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 20, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 117 total, 27 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: LBB, 20 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 20131110024909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131110024909A), Nov 10, 2013: Waterman Steven L SPARROWHAWK II, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was operating the home built gyrocopter on a local flight. During the landing, the pilot came in high and slow, landing hard. The pilot was not…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88440. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404689&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.

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