DEN01LA015

During high-speed taxi tests on the first flight of the gyroplane after construction was completed, the student pilot/builder informed the tower he might become airborne for a short time during the test run. The gyroplane did become airborne and reached an altitude of 100 to 200 feet above ground level followed by a hard landing on the runway. The gyroplane rolled on its side following the landing.

On November 18, 2000, at 1250 mountain standard time, a Murdock RAF 2000 GTX experimental gyrocopter, N6382T, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Ogden Hinckley Airport, Ogden, Utah. The student pilot, the sole occupant and builder of the gyrocopter was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight had been airborne approximately 1 minute.

According to Air Traffic Control personnel in the tower who witnessed the accident, the pilot was doing high-speed taxi tests on runway 21 and informed the tower he would be getting airborne on the next test. The gyrocopter lifted off and gained between 100 and 200 feet altitude followed by a hard landing. The ship bounced, turned 90 degrees to the runway and rolled on its side.

The pilot, in his written statement, confirmed the observations made from the tower. He said this was the first flight of the gyroplane and he had spent a couple of hours doing ground maneuvers prior to the high-speed taxi in which the aircraft became airborne.