# NTSB FTW89DPA01: Shannon J-BIRD, N151JS, Mckinney, TX, October 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1988, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Mckinney, TX
- Coordinates: 33.180767, -96.589134 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1808&lon=-96.5891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22691
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89DPA01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22691/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DPA01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST OF HIS GYROPLANE AFTER INSTALLATION OF A DIFFERENT ENG & PROP. HE SAID THE GYROPLANE ENCTRD A BUMP ON THE RWY WHICH CAUSED IT TO BECOME AIRBORNE AT ABOUT 35 MPH (TAKEOFF SPEED WAS 45 MPH). HE ADDED POWER TO SLOW THE DSCNT BACK TO THE RWY, BUT THE GYROPLANE BOUNCED EVEN HIGHER TO ABOUT 6' AGL. IT THEN CONTACTED THE RWY NOSEWHEEL FIRST, ROLLED OVER & SUBSEQUENTLY CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N151JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N151JS-1991-04-01), registration cancelled 1991-04-01, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHANNON J-BIRD
- Registry model: [Shannon J E J-BIRD](https://openairdocs.org/model/shannon-j-e-j-bird) (registry code 1301577) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 164
- Engines: ROTAX 503 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Shannon, Jay E.
- Registered owner: Shannon J.E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 1988, 24 hours before
- Airport: TX05, Aero Country, runway 17, 2,950 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,603 total, 149 in this make and model, 1,511 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19881001042549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881001042549A), Oct 1, 1988: Bbavia 8KCAB, Mckinney, TX, Substantial damage. During taxi test became airborne on a bump. Aborted, bounced and gyroplane then tumbled end over end on the runway.

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.

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