# NTSB CEN18LA002: Charles A Brazil MTO Sport, N818PB, McCoy, TX, October 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2017, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: McCoy, TX - Coordinates: 28.861389, -98.35028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8614&lon=-98.3503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96128/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96128 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a powerline during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Charles A Brazil MTO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056359G), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Charles A Brazil MTO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=056359G), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Charles A Brazil MTO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056359G), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a personal flight in the gyrocopter and planned on landing near his residence. The pilot reported that he made a normal approach near the powerlines; however, a gust of wind pushed the gyrocopter downward and the left landing gear caught a powerline. The pilot lost control of the gyrocopter and it impacted a road and came to rest on its right side. The accident is consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a powerline during the landing approach. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2017, about 1515 central daylight time, an MTO Sport gyroplane, N818PB, impacted a power line and terrain near McCoy, Texas. The student rated pilot received serious injuries and the gyrocopter was substantially damaged during the accident. The gyrocopter 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 at the time. The pilot reported to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he planned to land near his residence. The pilot reported that he made a normal approach near the power lines; however, a gust of wind pushed the gyrocopter downward and the left landing gear caught the power line. The pilot lost control of the gyrocopter and it impacted a roadway and came to rest on its right side. The main rotor had separated from the mast and substantial damaged was noted to the fuselage. The Hobbs meter read 47.92 hours. A review of FAA records revealed that the pilot purchased the kit in January 2017, and the gyrocopter received its airworthiness certificate on September 4, 2017. The pilot did not return a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident form (NTSB 6120.1). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N818PB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N818PB), registered now, S/N M01394, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHARLES A BRAZIL MTO SPORT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Charles A Brazil MTO SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/charles-a-brazil-mto-sport) (registry code 056359G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M01394 - Airframe hours: 47.92 - Engines: Rotax reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: McCoy, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; student; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 47 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KPEZ, 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 20171002011569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171002011569A), Oct 2, 2017: Mto SPORT, Mc Coy, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot made an approach to land and caught the left main landing gear on an electrical wire approximately 30 feet above the ground. The aircraft pitched… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96128. 10.4 MB in all. - Memo (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 809 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Brochure (item 3, .PDF, 9.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Brochure-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.