ERA20LA076

According to a witness, the gyroplane used more runway than typical to become airborne before it began to drift toward the left edge of the runway. About halfway down the runway, the gyroplane departed the runway, bounced over a taxiway, porpoised, and came to rest inverted. The witness stated that he saw no indication that the pilot had attempted to slow down or correct the left deviation from centerline. After the accident, a medical evaluation identified that the pilot had experienced a cerebral infarction (stroke). Symptoms often develop suddenly and can include numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg; confusion; difficulty speaking; trouble seeing; severe headache; and loss of coordination. It is likely that the pilot was incapacitated by the stroke during the takeoff roll.

On January 15, 2020, about 1450 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Magni M-24 Plus gyroplane, N327JD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had no recollection of the flight after he received his takeoff clearance. According to a witness, the gyroplane was using more runway than typical to become airborne before it began to drift toward the left edge of runway 32. About 3,000 ft down the runway, the left main gear departed the runway. The witness stated that he saw nothing to indicate that the pilot was attempting to slow down or correct the left deviation from centerline. He stated that the gyroplane was completely on the grass about 750 ft prior to taxiway C. The gyroplane "popped up and bounced over taxiway Charlie, landed once on the other side, bounced, porpoised and nosed-in on the second impact." The gyroplane came to rest inverted about 340 ft to the left of the runway edge, about 3,400 ft down the 6,000-ft-long runway. The front of the gyroplane was impact-crushed aft and the fuselage was fractured in multiple areas. According to Federal Aviation Administration airman records, the 69-year-old pilot held a sport pilot certificate with an endorsement for gyroplane. He had applied for BasicMed on November 18, 2018. The pilot reported taking medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gastric reflux, an enlarged prostate (alfuzosin), and allergies. He had diabetes controlled by diet and exercise. The pilot received immunosuppressive drug infusions for his ankylosing spondylitis. Postaccident hospital records revealed that the pilot had experienced a cerebral infarction. A cerebral infarction or cerebrovascular accident, commonly referred to as a stroke, happens when there is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. This more commonly happens when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel but can also happen from a broken blood vessel. Without blood flow to provide oxygen and nutrients, the brain cells die which can cause brain damage or even death. People develop symptoms based on which area of the brain is deprived of blood flow. Symptoms often develop suddenly and can include numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg; confusion; difficulty speaking; trouble seeing; severe headache; and loss of coordination.