# NTSB CHI08LA052: Levick RAF-2000-GTX-SE, N24DN, Salem, IN, December 14, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 2007, 14:26 local (19:26 UTC) - Place: Salem, IN - Coordinates: 38.601943, -86.139999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6019&lon=-86.1400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyroplane during climbout after takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A witness reported that after takeoff, when approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl), the gyroplane drifted to the right and the tail turned "abruptly" to the right about 90-degrees. The pilot reduced power and regained control. The gyroplane returned to the runway centerline and the pilot appeared to be setting up for a landing. However, when the gyroplane was about 5 feet above the runway, the pilot increased engine power and started to climb. About 75 to 100 feet agl, the tail of the gyroplane again turned "abruptly" to the right, the nose pitched up "steeply," and the aircraft rolled inverted. It subsequently impacted the ground on the rotor mast. A post accident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction. The pilot did not have any recollection of the accident flight. He reported that he had owned the accident gyroplane for 2-1/2 years, but he was still just learning. He soloed the previous summer and had accumulated about 5 hours of solo flight time. He had about 20 hours total flight time in gyroplanes. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating, with about 280 hours flight time in airplanes. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 2007, at 1426 eastern standard time, an amateur-built Levick RAF-2000-GTX-SE gyroplane, N24DN, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following an in-flight loss of control after takeoff from Salem Municipal Airport (I83), Salem, Indiana. The aircraft had departed from runway 28 (2,500 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) shortly before the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he did not have any recollection of the flight or of the accident sequence. A witness to the accident reported that the pilot taxied onto runway 28 and began the takeoff roll. He stated that the gyroplane rotated at about the runway numbers. Approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl), the gyroplane drifted to the right and the tail turned "abruptly" to the right about 90-degrees. The pilot reduced power and regained control. The gyroplane returned to the runway centerline and the pilot appeared to be setting up for a landing. However, when the aircraft was about 5 feet above the runway, the pilot increased engine power and started to climb. About 75 to 100 feet agl, the tail of the aircraft again turned "abruptly" to the right, the nose pitched up "steeply," and the aircraft rolled inverted. It subsequently impacted the ground on the rotor mast. A post accident examination of the gyroplane was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. No anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction were identified. All three composite propeller blades were fragmented. The rotor blades, hub and a portion of the mast had separated from the airframe and were located with the main wreckage. The rudder had also separated from the airframe and was located with the main wreckage. The flight control system was examined. Discontinuities in the flight control system appeared consistent with overload failures sustained during impact. The pilot reported that he had owned the accident aircraft for 2-1/2 years, but he was still just learning to fly a gyroplane. He soloed the previous summer and had accumulated about 5 hours of solo flight time. He had about 20 hours total flight time in gyroplanes. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating. He had acquired about 280 hours flight time in airplanes. A condition inspection of the gyroplane was completed on May 26, 2007. The aircraft had accumulated 227.5 hours flight time at the time of the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24DN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24DN-2008-04-24), registration cancelled 2008-04-24, S/N H2-98-9-340, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Levick RAF-2000-GTX-SE - Registry model: [Levick F Walter RAF 2000 GTX-SE](https://openairdocs.org/model/levick-f-walter-raf-2000-gtx-se) (registry code 05615B2) (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: H2-98-340 - Airframe hours: 230 - Engines: Subaru 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2007, 2.5 hours before - Departed: I83, Salem, IN - Airport: I83, Salem Muni, runway 28, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: SDF, 32 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 20071214828739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071214828739A), Dec 14, 2007: Amtr RAF2000GTXSE, Salem, IN, Destroyed. (-23) N24DN piloted by private pilot on December 14, 2007 at 1926 gmt was in the process of takeoff from Salem airport (I83) Salem, IN. As the aircraft rolled… ## Other investigations on N24DN (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA03LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA191), Sep 19, 2003: Levick RAF 2000 GTX-SE (N24DN), Bonners Ferry, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in the gyrocraft departing the runway and the main rotor impacting the… 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.