# NTSB CEN26LA081: Ela ELA10, N396S, Morris, IL, December 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 23, 2025, 13:36 local (19:36 UTC) - Place: Morris, IL - Coordinates: 41.42475, -88.418667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4248&lon=-88.4187&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202261/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202261 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure obtain the proper rotor rpm before applying power for the takeoff roll which resulted in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Edward M Hatten ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=05636DR), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) - [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Edward M Hatten ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=05636DR), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Edward M Hatten ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05636DR), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot taxied to the runway with the rotor still spinning from his previous landing, maintaining above a 100 rotor rpm on his gyroplane. As he taxied onto the runway, he noted his rotor rpm at 117 and he began to accelerate to build rotor speed, pitching back slightly. The pilot heard a loud pop and thinking he may have blown a tire on his right main landing gear, he glanced over to visually confirm it. He then checked his rotor rpm and found it had decreased to 80. At that same time, the gyroplane began to shake and then quickly turned over on its right side and came to rest on the left side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage and main rotor. According to the manufacturer’s pilot operating handbook (POH), when taxiing the rotor is to be aligned with the gyroplane (stationary). The rotor pre-rotation procedure instructs the pilot to “increase engine power slowly until reaching 220 rotor rpm” and has a caution message that states, “CAUTION Start the take-off with the rotor between 150-200 rpm requires a high skill. It is forbidden to proceed with take-off operations if the rotor is under 150 rpm.” It is likely that the pilot did not have sufficient rotor rpm to avoid rotor flap during the takeoff roll based on his statement. Whether the flat tire occurred during the takeoff or as a result of the gyroplane rolling over on its side was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N396S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N396S), registered now, S/N 08175411014, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ELA ELA10 - Registry model: [Edward M Hatten ECLIPSE 10](https://openairdocs.org/model/edward-m-hatten-eclipse-10) (registry code 05636DR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914-series) (registry code 55575, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 08175411014 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 96.6 - Engines: Rotax 914 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: C09, Morris Municipal Airport / James R Washburn Field, runway 36, 5,501 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 379.6 total, 54.2 in this make and model, 22.6 in the last 90 days, 13.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KC09 - METAR: METAR KC09 231935Z AUTO 28006KT 10SM CLR 09/05 A3009 RMK AO2 T00890045= ## 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 20251223021029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251223021029A), Dec 23, 2025: Edward M Hatten ECLIPSE 10, Morris, IL, Substantial damage. On December 23, 2025, at 1315 local time, the pilot in command (PIC) of N396S, an experimental amateur-built eclipse 10, was involved in an event at Morris… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202261. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19784409&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA081%20-%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19783992&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA081%20-%20PHOTOS-Rel.pdf - Pilot operator's handbook (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19880321&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA081%20-%20ACFT%20-%20POH-Rel.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.