# NTSB CHI77FEM42: Benson Gyro, Montague, MI, September 11, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 11, 1977
- Place: Montague, MI · MONTAGUE, MI
- Location: 43.4126° N, 86.3631° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montague, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4126&lon=-86.3631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FEM42
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEM42

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2651  77/9/11    MONTAGUE,MI         BENSON GYRO         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             STUDENT, AGE 52, 113
        TIME - 1735                    NONE                PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 102 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OTTIGER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MONTAGUE,MI                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: PISTON,PISTON RINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOW COMPRESSION
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- BENSON GYROPLANE MODIFIED WITH MCCULLOCH MOTORS AF MODEL 0-100-1. #4 PISTON RINGS SIEZED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: NONE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BENSON GYRO
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ottiger

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.

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