# NTSB CEN16LA096: Raymond Z Brown Condor, N41852, Centralia, IL, February 1, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 1, 2016, 14:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Centralia, IL - Coordinates: 38.524723, -89.090278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5247&lon=-89.0903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92677 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92677/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92677 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA096 ## Probable cause The failure of the prerotator belt, which impeded the engine's timing belt and resulted in a loss of engine power at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Main rotor drive](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md?model=05632BM), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=05632BM), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632BM), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05632BM), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05632BM), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=05632BM), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness observed the sport pilot departing in his experimental, amateur-built gyroplane when, about 300 ft above ground level, the gyroplane turned right and the rotor blades began to slow. The gyroplane then made a sharp left turn, descended, and abruptly pitched up before impacting a field. A postaccident examination of the gyroplane found that the belt driving the prerotator had broken and had become entangled in the engine timing belt, which would have resulted in a loss of engine power. No other anomalies were detected with the airframe and engine. An autopsy did not reveal any medical concerns with the pilot. ## Factual narrative The single-engine, two tandem seat gryoplane was manufactured in 2012 by the accident pilot. It was powered by a Subaru EJ22 engine driving a four-bladed composite Warp Drive propeller and equipped with Dragon Wings rotor blades. It was issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate as an experimental amateur build on December 22, 2012. The builder listed the gyroplane as a Condor and it followed the design of a Rotor Flight Dynamics Twin Dominator. The gyroplane restraint system consisted of a single lap belt. On February 1, 2016, about 1435 central standard time, an amateur-built Condor gyroplane, N41852, impacted terrain near Centralia, Illinois. The sport pilot was fatally injured and the gyroplane was substantially damaged. The gyroplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Centralia Municipal Airport (KENL), Centralia, Illinois at an unknown time. According to information obtained by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, an instructor pilot rated eyewitness watched the gyroplane as it departed runway 36. Upon reaching 300 ft above ground level, the gyroplane began a right turn. During the climb, the gyroplane rotor blades began to slow down. Another witness reported that the engine lost power. The gyroplane made a "tight" left turn towards the airport. It then rolled wings level and began descending in a flat attitude. Prior to impact, the gyroplane pitched up abruptly and impact the ground. The accident occurred about 1 mile from the airport. As of the writing of this report, an autopsy did not reveal any medical concerns with the pilot. The manner of death resides with the Marion County Coroner and is still undetermined. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. Results were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs. At 1435, an automated weather reporting station located at ENL reported a wind from 040 at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, a clear sky, temperature 54° F, dew point 32° F, and a barometric pressure of 29.99 inches of mercury. The pilot, age 63, held a sport pilot certificate issued on August 24, 2012. His log book was not located during the course of the investigation, and his flight experience could not be determined. He used a valid driver's license to exercise sport pilot privileges rather than possessing an FAA medical certificate. The pilot was wearing a helmet similar to a Comtronics Aircraft Helmet. However, its make and model could not be verified. The gyroplane was recovered to a hanger and examined by the FAA inspector. They found that the belt driving the prerotator had broken and had become entangled in the timing belt. No other anomalies were detected with the airframe and engine. Thegyroplane's prerotator had a freewheeling mechanism which would allow for free rotation of the rotor system. In addition, the prerotator would not have been engage during the accident. The gyroplane came in rest on its left side in an open field. All major components were located at the accident site. There was an impact crater located next to where the wreckage had come to rest. The fuselage was slightly twisted and the main rotor blades were bent, but remained attached to the rotor mast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41852](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41852-2019-03-02), registration cancelled 2019-03-02, S/N 41852, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAYMOND Z BROWN CONDOR (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Raymond Z Brown CONDOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/raymond-z-brown-condor) (registry code 05632BM) (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: 41852 - Year built: 2012 - Engines: Subaru EJ22 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KENL, Centralia, IL - Destination: KENL, Centralia, IL - Airport: ENL, Centralia Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: fatal; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KENL, 1 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 20160201000749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160201000749A), Feb 1, 2016: Raymond Z Brown CONDOR, Centralia, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft departed runway 36 at Centralia muni (enl). The aircraft began a right turn at approximately 300 feet AGL. Immediately after beginning the turn,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92677. 1.5 MB in all. - Witness Statements (item 1, .PDF, 515 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448776&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 957 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-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.