# NTSB FTW95LA031: Herron Little Wing Autogyro, N45LW, Little Rock, AR, October 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 1994, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Little Rock, AR - Coordinates: 34.840507, -92.330558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8405&lon=-92.3306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19293/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA031 ## Probable cause THE FRACTURED TAIL WHEEL MOUNTING BRACKET AND LOOSE TAILWHEEL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT TESTING AFTER EXPERIENCING TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY ON THE PRIOR TEST FLIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - fractured (cause) - landing gear,tailwheel - loose (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - Roll over, landing - roll ## Analysis A HOMEBUILT GYROPLANE ROLLED INVERTED DURING LANDING ON A CONCRETE RUNWAY. THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE TWO FRONT MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND AS THE TAIL WHEEL CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND ROLLED INVERTED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A FRACTURED TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BRACKET AND LOOSE TAIL WHEEL. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED 'TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY' DURING GROUND TAXI TESTING THE PREVIOUS DAY. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 1994, at 1500 central daylight time, a Herron Little Wing Autogyro, N45LW, was substantially damaged while landing near Little Rock, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local test flight. The pilot, and builder of the gyroplane, was conducting initial low level flight and taxi tests at North Little Rock Municipal Airport. He stated that the "initial flight tests" consisted of climbs, descents, and S-turns conducted at low altitude over the runway surface. Both hovering and roll-on landings were conducted with power on. These were accomplished by taking off from the approach end of the runway, flying the length of the runway at low altitude, and landing the airplane at the departure end. This sequence was accomplished 10 or 12 times with no problems. The pilot stated that, during the last landing, he attempted to land the gyroplane with power off and 10 to 15 knots of forward airspeed. The initial touchdown was on the two front main landing gear, and as the tail wheel came in contact with the ground, the tail turned sharply to the right. The aircraft then swerved to the left and rolled inverted to the right causing structural damage. After the accident, the pilot reported that the aircraft had a "tail wheel shimmy" during ground taxi testing the day prior to the accident. Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that the mounting bracket for the tail wheel assembly was fractured for undetermined reasons, and the tail wheel was loose. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45LW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45LW), registered now, S/N LW-1, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HERRON LITTLE WING AUTOGYRO (LITTLE WIN) - Registry model: [Herron Ronald LITTLE WING AUTOGYRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/herron-ronald-little-wing-autogyro) (registry code 05625XC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LW-1 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Herron, Ronald L. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: 1M1, North Little Rock Muni, runway 5, 3,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,400 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LIT, 5 nm away 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.