# NTSB ERA15CA121: Autogyro Calidus, N595X, Crozet, VA, February 4, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 4, 2015, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Crozet, VA
- Coordinates: 38.069442, -78.700553 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0694&lon=-78.7006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90693/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90693
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA121

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper control inputs which resulted in a loss of control and rollover during the takeoff roll.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After departing from the airport where the pilot kept the gyroplane, he flew to his family farm and landed without incident on a 1,500-foot-long grass polo field. Later on, during an attempted takeoff from the same field, when the gyroplane was traveling at 25 to 30 knots and was about 150 feet into the takeoff roll, the gyroplane rose to a balanced position on its main wheels, but then began to bounce up and down violently. The pilot then lost control of the gyroplane and it rolled over on its left side about 300 feet into the takeoff roll. The pilot advised that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the gyroplane. He further advised that it was "pilot error" and that he had "over advanced" the blades by pushing the control stick too far forward and that the blades were not yet at speed (too low a rotor rpm) when he did it. The pilot was not injured, but the gyroplane incurred damage to the rotor blades, the pusher propeller, the horizontal stabilizer, the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, the engine cowling, and the wheel pants.

## Factual narrative

After departing from the airport where the pilot kept the gyroplane, he flew to his family farm and landed without incident on a 1,500-foot-long grass polo field. Later on, during an attempted takeoff from the same field, when the gyroplane was traveling at 25 to 30 knots and was about 150 feet into the takeoff roll, the gyroplane rose to a balanced position on its main wheels, but then began to bounce up and down violently. The pilot then lost control of the gyroplane and it rolled over on its' left side about 300 feet into the takeoff roll. The pilot advised that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the gyroplane. He further advised that it was "pilot error" and that he had "over advanced" the blades by pushing the control stick too far forward and that the blades were not yet at speed (too low a rotor rpm) when he did it. The pilot was not injured, but the gyroplane incurred damage to the rotor blades, the pusher propeller, the horizontal stabilizer, the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, the engine cowling, and the wheel pants.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N595X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AUTOGYRO GMBH CALIDUS
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: C00350
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 22
- Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 16, 2014
- Departed: PVT, Crozet, VA
- Destination: W13, Waynesboro, VA
- Airport: PVT, Polo Field, runway None, 1,500 × 450 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 17, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 713 total, 27 in this make and model, 495 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: CHO, 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 20150204001919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150204001919A), Feb 4, 2015: David L King CALIDUS, Crozet, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot initiated take off roll. As gyroplane accelerated and reached about 25 to 30 knots it began to shake violently. After 2 to 3 seconds the pilot lost…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90693. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 771 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records – KCHO METARs and TAFs (item 3, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20%E2%80%93%20KCHO%20METARs%20and%20TAFs-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Right Front View of Main Wreckage – Courtesy of VSP (item 4, .PDF, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Front%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20VSP-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Right Side View of Main Wreckage – Courtesy of VSP (item 5, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Side%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20VSP-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Left Rear View of Main Wreckage – Courtesy of VSP (item 6, .PDF, 451 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Rear%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20VSP-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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