# NTSB ERA21LA031: Sparrowhawk II, N40380, North Myrtle Beach, SC, October 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 7, 2020, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: North Myrtle Beach, SC · On the beach - Coordinates: 33.846688, -78.576558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8467&lon=-78.5766&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA031 ## Probable cause A ruptured fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cassel Douglas A SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=05622R1), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cassel Douglas A SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05622R1), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cassel Douglas A SPARROWHAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05622R1), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the gyrocopter reported that he departed with full fuel tanks for a local flight. While flying along a coastline, the engine lost power, and the pilot navigated to complete a forced landing on a beach. During the landing rollout, the nose wheel dug into soft sand and the gyrocopter rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor and empennage. Postaccident examination of the gyrocopter’s engine revealed that a rubber fuel supply line was ruptured. Given this information, it is likely that the fuel leak starved the engine of fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40380](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40380), registered now, S/N 114 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sparrowhawk II (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cassel Douglas A SPARROWHAWK II](https://openairdocs.org/model/cassel-douglas-a-sparrowhawk-ii) (registry code 05622R1) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane - Serial number: 114 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 566 - Engines: Subaru 2.5 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2020 - Departed: SC21, Loris, SC - Airport: None - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,500 total, 575 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CRE, 5 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 20201007018459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201007018459A), Oct 7, 2020: Cassel Douglas A SPARROWHAWK II, North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft was filled with 26 gallons of fuel and departed SC21 on October 7, 2020. Aircraft flew to 81NC approx. a 10 minute flight. Aircraft departed and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102188. 15.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 14.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11673359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (FAA inspector) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11673050&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11673507&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.