# NTSB CEN16LA031: American Autogyro Sparrowhawk, N80825, Wakeman, OH, November 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2015, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Wakeman, OH - Coordinates: 41.293056, -82.370552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2931&lon=-82.3706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 92294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA031 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power/performance for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grooms Walter SPARROWHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05621KW), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Grooms Walter SPARROWHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05621KW), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Grooms Walter SPARROWHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05621KW), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight. The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he maintained "cyclic balance" until the gyrocopter lifted off at 65 mph. Subsequently, the red alarm light, which was designed to illuminate if the exhaust gas temperature or cylinder head temperature was exceeded, illuminated. The pilot scanned his instrument panel but noted nothing else anomalous. The gyrocopter started to descend, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude or climb. The pilot maneuvered the gyrocopter to avoid obstacles and trees, and during the forced landing to a field, it rolled left. An examination of the engine, airframe, and systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The investigation could not determine why the light illuminated or the gyrocopter's performance degraded. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2015, about 1300 eastern standard time, an American Autogyro Inc., Sparrowhawk experimental gyrocopter, N80825, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Wakeman, Ohio. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The local flight had just departed Ortner Airport (I64), Wakeman, Ohio.During the takeoff from runway 22 the pilot maintained "cyclic balance" until the gyrocopter lifted off at 65 miles per hour. The red alarm light on the panel illuminated and the pilot scanned his instruments but noted nothing anomalous. The gyrocopter started to descend and he was unable to maintain altitude or climb. The pilot maneuvered the gyrocopter to avoid obstacles and trees and during the forced landing to a field it rolled to the left. The fuselage, tail boom, and rotor mast were substantially damaged. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who responded to the accident reported that the fuel tank contained fuel and a sample of fuel taken from the system was free of visible contamination and water. The spark plugs were clean and exhibited signs of normal operation. There was no evidence of a catastrophic engine failure and nothing that would contribute to a loss of engine power. The red alarm light that illuminated on the pilot's instrument panel during the accident flight was designed to illuminate if the exhaust gas temperature or cylinder head temperature limits were exceeded. The inspector was unable to determine why this light illuminated. An examination of the engine, airframe, and systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine prior to the impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80825](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80825-2016-05-12), registration cancelled 2016-05-12, S/N 001, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Autogyro Sparrowhawk - Registry model: [Grooms Walter SPARROWHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/grooms-walter-sparrowhawk) (registry code 05621KW) (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: 001 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: SUBARU EJ 25 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2015 - Departed: I64, Wakeman, OH - Destination: I64, Wakeman, OH - Airport: I64, Ortner Airport - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 308 total, 0.4 in this make and model, 196 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KLPR, 9 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 20151104022729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151104022729A), Nov 4, 2015: Grooms Walter SPARROWHAWK, Florence Townsh, OH, Destroyed. Aircraft took off and the engine was not putting out enough power to enable the aircraft to gain altitude to clear the trees. The pilot decided to put the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92294. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.