# NTSB CHI06CA055: Carpenter RAF 2000, N9071H, Wintersville, OH, December 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 24, 2005, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Wintersville, OH - Coordinates: 40.365833, -80.699996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3658&lon=-80.7000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cleveland, OH, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA055 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the landing. A factor was the reported wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - lack of certification, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built gyrocopter operated by an unlicensed pilot sustained substantial damage when the aircraft impacted terrain during a landing. The pilot stated, "Came in for a landing. I hit a gust of wind. It pushed me up [and] sideways. I tried to land and hit the runway sideways and turned over." Recorded wind in the area was 200 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "More training would have prevented this accident." ## Factual narrative On December 24, 2005, about 1615 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Carpenter RAF 2000 gyrocopter, N9071H, operated by an unlicensed pilot sustained substantial damage when the aircraft impacted terrain during a landing on runway 32 at the Jefferson County Airpark (2G2), near Wintersville, Ohio. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 2G2 about 1530. The pilot's accident report stated: Flew pattern a few times. Came in for landing ok. I took off again and flew around airport pattern. Came in for a landing. I hit a gust of wind. It pushed me up [and] sideways. I tried to land and hit the runway sideways and turned over. At 1553, the recorded weather at the Wheeling Ohio County Airport, near Wheeling, West Virginia, was: Wind 200 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 12 degrees C; dew point -4 degrees C; altimeter 29.79 inches of mercury. The pilot did not report his accumulated flight times in his accident report. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "More training would have prevented this accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9071H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9071H), registered now, S/N H2-95-6-158, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CARPENTER RAF 2000 - Registry model: [Carpenter Gregory K RAF-2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/carpenter-gregory-k-raf-2000) (registry code 05601CR) (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: H2-95-6-158 - Engines: Subaru EJ reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph F. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 2G2, Wintersville, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: HLG ## 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 20051224032949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051224032949A), Dec 24, 2005: Amtr RAF2000, Steubenville, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The non-certificated pilot was attempting to land, went sideways, and lost control, which resulted in the crash. Gyrocopters operating limitations and… 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.