# NTSB DFW08CA208: Groom Sparrow Hawk, N167SC, Tulsa, OK, July 31, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2008, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Tulsa, OK - Coordinates: 36.198333, -95.888053 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1983&lon=-95.8881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68739/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA208 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyroplane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of recent flight instruction prior to the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Groom Garry SPARROWHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619JD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Groom Garry SPARROWHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05619JD), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Groom Garry SPARROWHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05619JD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was attempting to take off from the airfield when the gyroplane climbed out of ground effect. The pilot noted that the gyroplane did not want to climb or maintain altitude and began descend. The pilot commanded a right turn and the descent rate began to increase. The forced landing was set up in a nearby field. A hard landing was reported by the pilot and the gyroplane rolled onto its left side. The pilot was able to egress without assistance. A review of the pilot's log book revealed that the student pilot had not received an endorsement from a flight instructor within the prescribed 90 days of the solo flight. An NTSB 6120 was not submitted prior to the completion of this case. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was attempting to take off from the airfield when the gyroplane climbed out of ground effect. The pilot noted that the gyroplane did not want to climb or maintain altitude and began descend. The pilot commanded a right turn and the descent rate began to increase. The forced landing was set up in a nearby field. A hard landing was reported by the pilot and the gyroplane rolled onto its left side. The pilot was able to egress without assistance. A review of the pilot's log book revealed that the student pilot had not received an endorsement from a flight instructor within the prescribed 90 days of the solo flight. An NTSB 6120 was not submitted prior to the completion of this case. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N167SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N167SC-2012-12-13), registration cancelled 2012-12-13, S/N SH20040004K, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Groom Sparrow Hawk - Registry model: [Groom Garry SPARROWHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/groom-garry-sparrowhawk) (registry code 05619JD) (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: SH20040004K - Engines: Subaru EJ-22 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 5F2, TULSA, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: TUL, 4 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 20080731843989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080731843989A), Jul 31, 2008: SPARROWHAWK, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Put full fuel on aircraft and took off. After out of ground effect started losing altitude. Made a hard banking turn and lost more altitude. Landed hard,… 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.