- Date
- December 26, 2011, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Simsbury, CT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N435ABChapel Robert B Aerial
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20111226028919A
- Case key
- 82566
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to operate the gyroplane outside his endorsement limitations and to depart with a tailwind, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During run-up, high-speed taxi, and pre-spin of the rotor, the pilot/owner noted no anomalies with the recently certificated experimental amateur-built gyroplane. Although the pilot/owner was not rated in rotorcraft, he had a student endorsement that limited his flights to in-ground-effect only and with no more than 10 knots of wind. The pilot chose to perform a normal takeoff with a 14-knot tailwind that gusted to 24 knots. At 200 feet above the runway, the pilot determined that the rotor rpm was decaying and that the gyroplane would not climb due to the tailwind. He performed a forced landing off the departure end of the runway, and the gyroplane came to rest on its side, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot/owner reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the gyroplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot/owner was practicing takeoffs and landings in the recently certificated experimental amateur-built gyrocopter at the time of the accident. During run-up, high-speed taxi, and pre-spin of the rotor, the pilot noted no anomalies. While the pilot/owner was not rated in rotorcraft, he did have a student endorsement that limited his flights to in-ground-effect only, and no more than 10 knots of wind. The pilot chose to perform a normal takeoff with a 14-knot tailwind that gusted to 24 knots. At 200 feet above the runway, the pilot determined that the rotor rpm was decaying and the gyrocopter would not climb due to the tailwind. He performed a forced landing off the departure end of the runway, and the gyrocopter came to rest on its side which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot/owner reported to the FAA that there were no mechanical deficiencies with his gyrocopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N435AB
- Reported as
- Chapel Robert B Aerial
- Category
- Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number
- EX111
- Engine
- Subaru ALL MDLS A/B, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Chapel Robert B
- Registered owner
- Chapel Robert B
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · January 18, 2011
- Departed
- 4B9 · Simsbury, CT
- Destination
- 4B9 · Simsbury, CT
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 4B9 · Simsbury Airport, runway 21, 2,205 × 50 ft
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total · 3 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- BDL, 4 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 11.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.