CHI07CA081

NTSB accident investigation · Rotary Air Force Marketing RAF 2000 · Neenah, WI · February 23, 2007

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
February 23, 2007, 12:11 local (18:11 UTC)
Place
Neenah, WI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N5077FRotary Air Force Marketing RAF 2000
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 25, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-Milwaukee FSDO
Case key
65453

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing factors were a bent rudder trim tab, the narrow runway, and the uneven terrain at the edge of the runway pavement.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding
Flt control syst,rudder trim/tab control - bentFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - narrowFactor
Roll overLanding

Analysis

The gyroplane was substantially damaged when it rolled onto its right side during landing. The pilot reported that he had recently purchased the gyroplane, and while transporting it to his home airport, a trailer tie-down strap had broken and bent the rudder trim tab. The tab was bent back to approximately its original position. The pilot reported that during the initial flight, right rudder was needed to keep the gyroplane straight. When he returned to the airport the gyroplane touched down on the main wheels. It did not come to a full stop before the nose wheel touched down and the gyroplane "jerked hard right." He noted he "forgot to take out the right rudder." His attempts to keep the gyroplane on the runway were unsuccessful, and the right main wheel dropped off the runway pavement. The gyroplane subsequently rolled onto its right side, damaging the main rotor mast and control linkage.

Factual narrative

The gyroplane was substantially damaged when it rolled onto its right side during landing. The pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that he had recently purchased the aircraft and while transporting it to his home airport a trailer tie down strap had broken and bent the rudder trim tab. The tab was bent back to approximately its original position. The pilot reported that during the initial flight, right rudder was needed to keep the aircraft straight. When he returned to the airport, he set up for landing on runway 18 (2,450 feet by 20 feet, asphalt). He stated that the aircraft touched down on the main wheels. It did not come to a full stop before the nose wheel touched down and the aircraft "jerked hard right." He noted he "forgot to take out the right rudder." His attempts to keep the aircraft on the runway were unsuccessful and the right main wheel "dropped off" the runway pavement. The aircraft subsequently rolled onto its right side damaging the main rotor mast and control linkage.

Aircraft

Registration
N5077F
Reported as
Rotary Air Force Marketing RAF 2000
Category
Gyroplane
Serial number
H2-05-16-649
Airframe hours
114
Engine
Subaru EJ2-5, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Special light-sport (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 2006
Departed
79C · Neenah, WI
Airport
79C · Brennand, runway 18, 2,450 × 20 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
57
Injuries
None
Certificate
Sport Pilot
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Sport pilot
Last flight review
January 1, 2007
Seat
Left
Flight hours
280 total · 35 in this make and model · 246 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
10,000 ft broken
Temperature
25 °F, dew point 16 °F
Altimeter
30.42 inHg
Observed at
ATW, 6 nm away