# NTSB ERA23LA114: Degraw Richard R Summit 23, N40DG, Wauchula, FL, January 20, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 20, 2023, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Wauchula, FL · on AIrport - Coordinates: 27.514917, -81.880472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5149&lon=-81.8805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 106615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106615/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106615 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and dynamic rollover. ## 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: [Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05623A1), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05623A1), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05623A1), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=05623A1), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to make a crosswind landing and flared too high. He tried to recover by adding power, but it was too late, and the gyroplane landed hard on the left main landing gear. The gyroplane then bounced back and forth on both main landing gear before it rolled over and substantially damaged the main rotor blades and tail section. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40DG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40DG-2024-11-26), registration cancelled 2024-11-26, S/N 9203, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEGRAW RICHARD R SUMMIT 23 - Registry model: [Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/degraw-richard-r-summit-23) (registry code 05623A1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 9203 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 350.7 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 2022 - Airport: CHN, Wauchula Muni, runway 36, 4,005 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2021; seat: single; flight hours: 2,260 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,107.4 as pilot in command, 0.6 in the last 90 days, 0.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KBOW, 26 nm away - METAR: METAR KBOW 202045Z 30003KT 10SM SKC 27/17 A3009 ## 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 20230120000579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230120000579A), Jan 20, 2023: Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23, Wauchula, FL, Substantial damage. On January 20, 2023, at approximately 1530 eastern standard time, a registered gyrocopter, [privacy data omitted], a summit 23, serial number 9203,was on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106615. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 12.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15106935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15107113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.