# NTSB ERA13LA126: Mccowan Steve A Shttd, N4201S, Montrose, GA, February 4, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 4, 2013, 06:48 local (11:48 UTC)
- Place: Montrose, GA
- Coordinates: 32.535556, -83.056945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5356&lon=-83.0569&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86155/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86155
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA126

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the separation of the No. 2 piston connecting rod.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=056175W), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=056175W), [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056175W), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056175W), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056175W), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=056175W), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

About 15 minutes after takeoff, during cruise flight, the engine's performance began to degrade. Although the flight instructor increased engine power, the engine subsequently lost total power, so he maneuvered the gyroplane for landing in a clearing. During the approach, the main rotor blade impacted power lines. Subsequently, the gyroplane landed hard, rolled over, and came to rest on its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the rotor system, horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. Examination of the engine crankcase revealed a hole near the fuel intake system and the separation of the No.2 piston connecting rod.

## Factual narrative

On February 4, 2013, about 0645 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built, SHTTD gyrocopter, N4201S, experienced a total loss of engine power near Montrose, Georgia, after takeoff from the W H 'Bud' Barron Airport (DBN), Dublin, Georgia, about 0630. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a field. The certificated flight instructor (CFI)/owner and private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the control rods to the rotor mast. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the CFI under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Macon Downtown Airport (MAC), Macon, Georgia. According to the CFI, approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident, during cruise flight, about 2,000 feet above mean sea level, the engine power began to degrade. He increased the power on the engine and subsequently the engine stopped. He assumed control of the gyrocopter and began to maneuver for landing at a radio controlled airplane grass landing area. During the approach, the gyrocopter's main rotor blade impacted powerlines, which severed the control rods to the rotor mast, damaged the rotor blades, and damaged the fiberglass surrounding the cockpit. During the landing, the main landing gear compression strut was damaged, the gyrocopter rolled over, and came to rest on its right side. Initial examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine could be rotated by hand; however, only through about 30 degrees of arc and then would seize. Photographic documentation of the gyrocopter revealed substantial damage to the main rotor system, horizontal stabilizer, and the fuselage structure. The gyrocopter was equipped with a Subaru EJ 25, 165-hp engine and a Warp Drive, 72-inch propeller. According to maintenance records provided by the owner, the engine had been overhauled approximately 65 flight hours prior to the accident and he had installed it on the gyrocopter on February 16, 2012. During removal of the alternator to facilitate transport to the overhaul facility, a hole was noted in the engine crankcase near the fuel intake system. According to the CFI/owner who was also a mechanic, it appeared that the "No. 2 piston rod had come loose."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4201S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4201S), registered now, S/N 001, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCCOWAN STEVE A SHTTD
- Registry model: [Mccowan Steve A SHTTD](https://openairdocs.org/model/mccowan-steve-a-shttd) (registry code 056175W) (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: 657
- Engines: Suburu EJ 25 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 18, 2012, 10 hours before
- Departed: DBN, Dublin, GA
- Destination: MAC, Macon, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 7,071 total, 20 in this make and model, 6,940 as pilot in command
- Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 547 total, 17 in this make and model, 271 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: MCN, 25 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 20130204024269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130204024269A), Feb 4, 2013: Sparrow Hawk SHTTD, Montrose, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot [privacy data omitted] stated he was providing night instruction to student pilot [privacy data omitted] for a commercial rotorcraft gyroplane rating.…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86155. 10.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387262&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Instructor Logbook [Excerpts] (item 3, .PDF, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Logbook%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Macon Weather (item 4, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Macon%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Email from Flight Instructor (item 5, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Flight%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF
- Email from CFI to FAA (item 6, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20CFI%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Receiving Instruction Email to FAA (item 7, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Receiving%20Instruction%20Email%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Gyrocopter at Rest (Courtesy of the Owner) (item 8, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386997&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Gyrocopter%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Owner)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Hole in Engine Crankcase (Courtesy of the Owner) (item 9, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Hole%20in%20Engine%20Crankcase%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Owner)-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.

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