CHI06LA258

The experimental amateur-built gyrocopter was destroyed on impact with terrain near a private airstrip. A ground fire occurred. A witness stated, "I was out checking our freshly cut hay. I heard [the pilot's] gyrocopter's engine at a normal idle speed. I often heard the gyrocopter when [the pilot] was working on it. Suddenly the rpm's revved up real high and shut off approximately 2-3 seconds later, I heard an explosion. Unfortunately, at that time, I just assumed that the engine backfired." The pilot was not a certificated pilot.

History of flight

On September 9, 2006, about 1600 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Garner, Garner Falcon gyrocopter, N6194Y, was destroyed on impact with terrain near Newton, Iowa. A ground fire occurred. 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 was fatally injured. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Newton, Iowa, at time unknown.

A witness heard the an aircraft between 1530 and 1600. He stated:

I was out checking our freshly cut hay. I heard [the pilot's]

gyrocopter's engine at a normal idle speed. I often heard the

gyrocopter when [the pilot] was working on it. Suddenly the

rpm's revved up real high and shut off approximately 2-3 seconds

later, I heard an explosion. Unfortunately, at that time, I just

assumed that the engine backfired.

Around 4:15 pm, my brother, my son and I were ready to deliver

some hay. We noticed that there was smoke to the southwest of

our property, which would be the [pilot's parent's] land. We drove

over to the gravel road to the west of the [that] property but could

not figure out where the smoke was coming from. My son thought

[the pilot] might have been burning tile, which he often did, so we

went on with our hay delivery.

The wreckage was subsequently found by family members and was reported to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

Personnel information

The pilot was not a certificated pilot. The pilot's flight instructor indicated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the pilot had accumulated about eight hours of flight instruction.

Aircraft information

N6194Y was an experimental amateur-built Garner, Garner Falcon gyrocopter, serial number 001. A Subaru EJ22 engine powered the aircraft. The aircraft's maximum gross weight was 800 pounds. A witness reported to a FAA inspector that the pilot modified the aircraft. The pilot was not the original builder of the aircraft. Current aircraft logbooks were not recovered.

Meteorological information

At 1555, the recorded weather at the Newton Municipal Airport, near Newton, Iowa, was: Wind 070 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition broken 2,600 feet overcast 3,300 feet; temperature 22 degrees C; dew point 18 degrees C; altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury.

Airport information

A grass airstrip was located behind the pilot's parent's farm. The runway was orientated in a north and south direction and was about a quarter mile in length.

Wreckage and impact information

The gyrocopter came to rest on its left side in a waterway about 100 feet south of the south end of the grass airstrip. One main rotor blade separated from the mast and was bent in a U-shape. The detached rotor blade came to rest about 20 yards south of the main wreckage. The other main rotor blade remained attached to the mast and was imbedded in the ground. The propeller blades were sheared off at the propeller hub.

Medical and pathological information

The Jasper County Medical Examiner's Office arranged the pilot's autopsy, which was performed on the pilot by the Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner.

The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for the tests performed.

Fire

A ground fire occurred and a witness heard an explosion.

Additional information

The FAA was a party to the investigation.