# NTSB CHI83LA001: Benson Gyrocopter, N9985F, Mt. Vernon, OH, October 1, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1982, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Vernon, OH
- Coordinates: 40.390266, -82.470787 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3903&lon=-82.4708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71794
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71794/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA001

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE GYROCOPTER PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT HARD, BOUNCED AND THEN NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9985F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9985F-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 1, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSON GYROCOPTER
- Registry model: [Shuff Davis GYROCOPTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/shuff-davis-gyrocopter) (registry code 1301551) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 95
- Engines: VOLKSWAGON 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Gory W. Davis
- Registered owner: Gory W. Davis
- Departed: 664, MT. VERNON, OH
- Destination: 664, MT. VERNON, OH
- Airport: 664, Mt. Vernon Wynkoop

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 108 total, 108 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 158 °F

## 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 19821001050409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821001050409A), Oct 1, 1982: Amtrbx BENSENB8*, Mt Vernon, OH, Destroyed. Landed hard bounced and flipped over. Gyrocopter destroyed when rotors hit the ground.

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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