# NTSB ERA13CA122: Amirkhanian Shahram Charl Commander, N393GX, Westminster, MD, January 29, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2013, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Westminster, MD - Coordinates: 39.450279, -77.017219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4503&lon=-77.0172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86106/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86106 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA122 ## Probable cause Impact with power lines due to the pilot’s obscured vision due to the low angle of the sun, which prevented the pilot from seeing the lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md?model=05629FP), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629FP), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05629FP), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=05629FP), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05629FP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05629FP), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the gyroplane, he was practicing aborted takeoffs from a field that had power lines near the practice area and performing 180-degree turns to simulate a return to the runway. He successfully completed one practice maneuver, taking off to the south and making a 180-degree turn to the north. During the second practice maneuver, he took off to the north and began a 180-degree turn to the south. The pilot stated that, immediately after making the turn, the sun obscured his vision for several seconds. The gyroplane then struck a power line, and the pilot pushed the cyclic forward to land in the field. Subsequently, the gyroplane impacted the ground hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. At the time of the accident, the angle of the sun was low and directly in the flightpath during the turn. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the gyrocopter, he was practicing aborted takeoffs with 180-degree turns to a simulated runway in a field that had power lines in the vicinity of the practice area. He successfully completed one simulated aborted takeoff and turned back toward the simulated runway. During the second practice maneuver, he took off to the north, and began the 180-degree turn to the south. The pilot stated the sun obscured his vision for several seconds, the gyrocopter struck a powerline, and he pushed the cyclic forward in order to land in the field. Then, the gyrocopter impacted the ground hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N393GX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N393GX), registered now, S/N SCA001, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMIRKHANIAN SHAHRAM CHARL COMMANDER - Registry model: [Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/amirkhanian-shahram-charl-commander) (registry code 05629FP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503ULDCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503uldcdi) (registry code 55568, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SCA001 - Airframe hours: 209 - Engines: ROTAX 503ULDCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Amirkhanian Shahram C - Registered owner: Amirkhanian Shahram C - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 19, 2012 - Departed: 2W2, Westminster, MD - Destination: 2W2, Westminster, MD - Airport: 2W2, Clearview Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 1,560 total, 224 in this make and model, 1,338 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KDMW, 12 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 20130129000639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130129000639A), Jan 29, 2013: Amirkhanian Shahram Charl COMMANDER, Westminster, MD, Destroyed. Pilot was practicing turns over an open field. As he came around the turn the sun came out from behind the clouds and the pilot could not see forward and flew… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86106. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 801 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FDK Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FDK%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Sun and Moon Data (item 3, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20and%20Moon%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo of Aircraft Prior to Accident with Damage Description (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Aircraft%20Prior%20to%20Accident%20with%20Damage%20Description%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF 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.