# NTSB CEN15CA128: Burton Calidus, N50NE, Grand Junction, CO, January 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 6, 2015, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.080554, -108.559165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0806&lon=-108.5592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 90664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90664/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90664 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain that was along the planned route of flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Michael Burton CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05633B9), [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. - [Enroute-change of cruise level: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Michael Burton CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05633B9), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Enroute-change of cruise level: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Michael Burton CALIDUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633B9), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Michael Burton CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05633B9), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Michael Burton CALIDUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633B9), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during a flight to the destination airport, the gyrocopter was in a slow climb at about 60 knots due to higher terrain that he knew was approaching along the route. As the gyrocopter approached a ridge, the pilot noticed that more altitude was needed, so he turned left of course along the ridge while continuing the climb, expecting to turn right at an area that he saw had lower terrain. The pilot said that things were still going well, but the climb rate had decreased somewhat. As the gyrocopter approached the area of lower terrain, the gyrocopter started to descend quickly with a best rate of climb speed of 52 knots. The gyrocopter descended lower than the surrounding trees and "brushed" the tree tops, tipping the gyrocopter forward and to the right. The pilot saw a small clearing and applied corrective control input to maintain an upright attitude of the gyrocopter and to reach the clearing. Just before entering the clearing, the gyrocopter contacted oak brush with its rotor blades, which sustained substantial damage. The gyrocopter landed in the clearing and slid with minimal forward speed to a stop. The aircraft fuselage had a fractured nose and collapsed nose gear. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated that if he had turned right at the approach of the ridge where the terrain was lower, he could have gone around the south end of the ridge. He said he should have expected a down draft on the lee side of the ridge and could also have executed an escape route earlier by turning away from the ridge before the area of down flowing air. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during a flight to the destination airport, the gyrocopter was in a slow climb at about 60 knots due to higher terrain that he knew was approaching along the route. As the gyrocopter approached a ridge, the pilot noticed that more altitude was needed, so he turned left of course along the ridge while continuing the climb, expecting to turn right at an area that he saw had lower terrain. The pilot said that things were still going well, but the climb rate had decreased somewhat. As the gyrocopter approached the area of lower terrain, the gyrocopter started to descend quickly with a best rate of climb speed of 52 knots. The gyrocopter descended lower than the surrounding trees and "brushed" the tree tops, tipping the gyrocopter forward and to the right. The pilot saw a small clearing and applied corrective control input to maintain an upright attitude of the gyrocopter and to reach the clearing. Just before entering the clearing, the gyrocopter contacted oak brush with its rotor blades, which sustained substantial damage. The gyrocopter landed in the clearing and slid with minimal forward speed to a stop. The aircraft fuselage had a fractured nose and collapsed nose gear. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated that if he had turned right at the approach of the ridge where the terrain was lower, he could have gone around the south end of the ridge. He said he should have expected a down draft on the lee side of the ridge and could also have executed an escape route earlier by turning away from the ridge before the area of down flowing air. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50NE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50NE-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N C00240, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURTON CALIDUS - Registry model: [Michael Burton CALIDUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-burton-calidus) (registry code 05633B9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C00240 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 151.3 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Airgyro Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Airgyro Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: MTJ, Montrose, CO - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; flight instructor, sport pilot, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review August 30, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,691 total, 417 in this make and model, 3,151 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.48 inHg - Observed at: GJT ## 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 20150106000249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150106000249A), Jan 6, 2015: Michael Burton CALIDUS, Glade Park, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed montrose Colorado at approx 1630, heading toward spanish fork Utah in a north west direction. Attempted to climb over mountainous terrain,… ## Other investigations on N50NE (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR16LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA114), May 20, 2016: Michael Burton Calidus (N50NE), Fruitland, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper judgment in conducting a flight in a gyroplane over mountainous terrain near its demonstrated maximum operating altitude and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate clearance… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90664. 445 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423192&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. --- 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.