# NTSB CEN18LA219: Aston Kinsey Tercel, N640BE, Cokeville, WY, June 11, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 2018, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Cokeville, WY - Coordinates: 42.082778, -110.955276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0828&lon=-110.9553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97441 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97441/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97441 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA219 ## Probable cause The loss of gyrocopter control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the gyrocopter revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05634RE), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05634RE), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05634RE), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05634RE), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05634RE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05634RE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot reported that, while performing maneuvers in the gyrocopter south of the private airstrip, he felt no response when he applied left cyclic, and the gyrocopter "was stuck in a moderate right turn." The pilot initiated an emergency descent back to the private airstrip. During the approach, the pilot was unable to regain control of the gyrocopter, and it impacted terrain while sliding to the right. The gyrocopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side. Postaccident examination of the gyrocopter revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2018, at 0715 mountain daylight time, an Aston Kinsey Tercel gyrocopter, N640BE, impacted terrain during landing at a private airstrip near Cokeville, Wyoming. The sport pilot and passenger were not injured, and the gyrocopter sustained substantial damage. The gyrocopter was registered and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local flight departed the private airstrip at 0700. According to the pilot, while performing maneuvers south of the private airstrip, he felt no response when he applied left cyclic, and the gyrocopter "was stuck in a moderate right turn." The pilot initiated an emergency descent back to the private airstrip. During the approach, the pilot was unable to regain control of the gyrocopter, and it impacted terrain while sliding to the right. The gyrocopter rolled over to the right and came to rest on its right side. Post accident examination of the gyrocopter by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the gyrocopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage structure, vertical stabilizers, and horizontal stabilizer. A cyclic push/pull tube was fractured consistent with damage sustained during the impact; no additional anomalies were noted with the flight control systems. The examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N640BE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N640BE-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N T&SG20815S, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ASTON KINSEY TERCEL (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aviation Artur Trendak TERCEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviation-artur-trendak-tercel) (registry code 05634RE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul) (registry code 55592, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane - Serial number: T&SG20815S - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 130 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 2017, 79 hours before - Departed: Cokeville, WY - Destination: Cokeville, WY - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 95 total, 90 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: AFO, 40 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 20180611007579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180611007579A), Jun 11, 2018: Trendak TERCEL, Cokeville, WY, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed a private strip near cockville WY. After approx. 10 minutes of flying and manuvering, he made a right hand turn and then tried to go back… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97441. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.