# NTSB ERA22LA134: Spangenberg AR-1KC, N65PC, Sarasota, FL, February 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 20, 2022, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL · On Airport - Coordinates: 27.395444, -82.554389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3954&lon=-82.5544&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104693 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104693/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104693 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper control input during an aborted takeoff procedure, which resulted in a main rotor blade contacting the vertical stabilizer, a loss of control, and subsequent runway excursion. ## 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: [Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638HC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05638HC), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05638HC), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05638HC), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll, she felt a “shudder” just before the gyrocopter became airborne. She immediately aborted the takeoff and reduced power with the aft cyclic still applied. The gyrocopter entered a steep nose-high attitude, and a main rotor blade struck the top of the vertical stabilizer. The gyrocopter departed the left side of the runway and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. Also, the nosewheel fractured and separated from the airframe. Postaccident examination of the flight controls and the fractured nosewheel revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On February 20, 2022, an experimental amateur-built Spangenberg AR-1KC gyrocopter, N65PC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), Sarasota, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The gyrocopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll as the rotors reached 180 rpm, she released the pre-rotator and increased speed for a normal takeoff. Just before becoming airborne, the gyrocopter and the control stick “began to shudder.” The pilot also stated that she immediately aborted the takeoff and pulled back engine power. According to the pilot, she had the control stick “back too far for the conditions at that moment,” which caused a nose-high attitude and a rotor blade to “hit the very top of the tail on two screw heads that held the top of the rudder in place.” The gyrocopter departed the left side of the runway and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that she and her flight instructor examined the flight controls after the accident and found no mechanical problems that would have contributed to the accident. The nose wheel separated from the gyrocopter at the weld point where it attached to the airframe. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surfaces revealed that they failed due to ductile overstress shear fracture from impact. No evidence of fatigue was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65PC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65PC), registered now, S/N 0038, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SPANGENBERG AR-1KC - Registry model: [Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC](https://openairdocs.org/model/paul-d-spangenberg-ar-1kc) (registry code 05638HC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914-series) (registry code 55575, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0038 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 192 - Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Baby Bird Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 9, 2021 - Airport: SRQ, Sarasota/Bradenton Intl, runway 4, 5,006 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 496 total, 109 in this make and model, 358 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: SRQ - METAR: SA 20/02/2022 19:53-> METAR KSRQ 201953Z 10007KT 050V120 10SM CLR 27/09 A3019 ## 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 20220220002379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220220002379A), Feb 20, 2022: Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. On February 20, 2022, at 1443 EST, N65PC, amateur built 2019 Paul D Spangenberg AR-1KC, [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident where the aircraft… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104693. 37.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 19.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13636716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13758250&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20ROC%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Srq surveillance video (item 3, AVI, 13.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13637287&FileExtension=avi&FileName=Tower_fixed_2-Rel.avi - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 647 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13636825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - NTSB materials lab factual email report (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13637429&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(final)-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.