# NTSB ERA18TA144: Christopher Lord ELA 07 Scorpion, N534EA, Sebring, FL, May 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: May 7, 2018, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Sebring, FL - Coordinates: 27.44861, -81.343055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4486&lon=-81.3431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97199 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18TA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97199/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97199 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to slow the gyroplane and maintain control while exiting the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05636LH), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636LH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05636LH), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the experimental, amateur-built gyroplane. He landed on the runway and began a left turn to the taxiway. A witness stated that the rotor blades had a "high speed" of rotation after the gyroplane landed and that a main rotor blade struck the runway. Subsequently, the gyroplane spun and rolled onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor, and tail section. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. He recommended that the accident might have been prevented by "slow[ing] down while making turns." ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2018, about 1145 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Ela 07 Scorpion gyroplane, N534EA, was substantially damaged during the landing rollout at Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring, Florida. The student pilot sustained serious injuries. The gyroplane was operated by the student pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident for the local flight.According to the pilot, he was flying in the pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. After landing on runway 1, during the landing roll, he began a left turn to exit the runway when the gyroplane "tipped" and rolled onto the right side. According to a witness, after the gyroplane landed on runway 1, the rotor blades still had a "high speed" of rotation. When the aircraft started turning to a taxiway on the left, a main rotor blade struck the runway, the gyroplane spun 180° to the right, and impacted the ground, coming to rest on its right side. Examination of the gyroplane revealed that one of the main rotor blades impacted the front of the fuselage and a section of the other main rotor blade was impact separated and located about 350 ft from the wreckage. The tail section remained attached to the fuselage. The flight controls were intact, and no binding was noted when they were operated. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did state in the Recommendation Section of the submitted NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident report that the accident might have been prevented by "slow[ing] down while making turns." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N534EA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N534EA), registered now, S/N 04175340734, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTOPHER LORD ELA 07 SCORPION (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION](https://openairdocs.org/model/christopher-lord-ela-07-scorpion) (registry code 05636LH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (registry code 55553, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 04175340734 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 21, 2017, 55 hours before - Departed: SEF, Sebring, FL - Destination: SEF, Sebring, FL - Airport: SEF, Sebring Rgnl, runway 01, 5,234 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; student, sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2017; seat: single; flight hours: 1,623 total, 44 in this make and model, 1,517 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: SEF ## 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 20180507004909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180507004909A), May 7, 2018: Amatuer Homebuilt SCORPION, Sebring, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot was on a solo training flight and completed a landing on runway 1. After landing the pilot tried to make a left exit towards taxiway A2. Upon turning… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97199. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Local Law Enforcement Report (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Local%20Law%20Enforcement%20Report-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479044&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.