ERA18LA027

The pilot and flight instructor were conducting a flight review in the pilot’s experimental gyroplane. Both reported that the engine start, run up, and takeoff were normal. About 100 ft above ground level, they increased throttle to full power, which engaged the turbocharger. Immediately after, there was a rapid loss of engine power from 5,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm, and they were unable to maintain flight. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and made a 180° turn back toward the runway but was unable to reach the runway at the completion of the turn. The aircraft landed hard in the grass, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and disposed of; therefore, no additional examination of the engine was conducted, and the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.

On November 17, 2017, about 1000 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Autogyro Cavalon, N470CH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Oak Island, North Carolina. The private pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot, who was also the owner of the aircraft, reported that he was receiving instruction for his flight review. The engine run-up and takeoff to the southwest were normal, but while climbing through 100 ft above ground level, shortly after applying full power, which engaged the turbocharger, there was a rapid loss of engine power from 5,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm, and they were unable to maintain flight. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and made a 180° turn back toward runway 5. Immediately after completing the turn, the aircraft landed hard in the grassy area west of the runway and rolled to a stop. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the fuselage was cracked in multiple locations, and the center throttle console was buckled, which revealed substantial internal damage to the airframe. Subsequent follow-up with the pilot revealed that the gyrocopter was damaged beyond repair and disposed of with no additional troubleshooting or examination of the engine or turbocharger conducted.