- Date
- April 27, 2001, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Clarksville, AR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N36BJBoykin B J B8M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20010427009879A
- Case key
- 52192
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loose control stick on takeoff, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot completed 3 touch-and-go landings in the gyrocraft at the airport. He stated that his 4th takeoff was "normal;" however, as the gyrocraft was climbing through 70 feet, the pilot noticed that the control stick "became difficult to move left and right." The pilot reduced the engine power to idle, and the gyrocraft started to descend to the left. He applied right pressure on the control stick, and the control "suddenly became free;" however, "left and right control was lost and the gyrocopter descended to the left." The gyrocraft impacted terrain at 45-50 mph. The pilot stated that the control stick had become "loose." He added that he could have conducted "more preflight inspection," and "tighten[ed] all adjuster fittings."
Factual narrative
On April 27, 2001, at 1030 central daylight time, a Boykin B J B8M, amateur-built experimental gyrocraft, N36BJ, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an uncontrolled descent at the Clarksville Municipal Airport, Clarksville, Arkansas. The gyrocraft was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Clarksville Municipal Airport at 1000.
According to a written statement provided by the pilot, he had completed 3 touch-and-go landings at the airport. He stated that his 4th takeoff was "normal;" however, as the gyrocraft was climbing through 70 feet, the pilot noticed that the control stick "became difficult to move left and right." The pilot reduced the engine power to idle, and the gyrocraft started to descend to the left. He applied right pressure on the control stick and the control "suddenly became free;" however, "left and right control was lost and the gyrocopter descended to the left." The gyrocraft impacted terrain at 45-50 mph.
In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that the control stick had become "loose." He added under the section titled "Recommendations (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)" that he could have conducted "more preflight inspection," and "tighten[ed] all adjuster fittings."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N36BJ
- Reported as
- Boykin B J B8M
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 81679
- Airframe hours
- 235
- Engine
- Volkswagen 2180, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lanny Bicio
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · October 20, 2000 · 235 hours before
- Departed
- H35 · Clarksville, AR
- Airport
- H35 · Clarksville Municipal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 157 total · 28 in this make and model · 83 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.