- Date
- October 24, 2015, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Buckeye, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N166BEBrandon Evans Gyroplane
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Admnistration
- FAA report
- 20151024020559A
- Case key
- 92260
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 student pilot's incorrect control input during takeoff which resulted in a runaway excursion and impact with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot reported that he lined the gyroplane up on the centerline of the runway for takeoff. As the takeoff roll was commenced, the student pilot stated he looked down to check the gyroplane's airspeed indicator and when he looked back up the gyroplane was 2 feet above the ground and drifting right. The gyroplane rolled right and came to rest on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor mast and horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that as the rotor was coming up to speed, he noticed the student pilot was holding the cyclic aft and to the right. The flight instructor reported he tried to push the cyclic forward and left but was unable to overcome the student pilot's cyclic inputs. The gyroplane rolled right and came to rest on its right side. The student pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that he lined the gyroplane up on the centerline of the runway for takeoff. As the takeoff roll was commenced, the student pilot stated he looked down to check the gyroplane's airspeed indicator and when he looked back up the gyroplane was 2 feet above the ground and drifting right. The gyroplane rolled right and came to rest on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor mast and horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that as the rotor was coming up to speed, he noticed the student pilot was holding the cyclic aft and to the right. The flight instructor reported he tried to push the cyclic forward and left but was unable to overcome the student pilot's cyclic inputs. The gyroplane rolled right and came to rest on its right side. The student pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N166BE
- Reported as
- Brandon Evans Gyroplane
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 001
- Built
- 2007
- Airframe hours
- 62
- Engine
- Subaru EJ25, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 21, 2015
- Departed
- BXK · Buckeye, AZ
- Destination
- BXK · Buckeye, AZ
- Airport
- BXK · Buckeye Muni, runway 35, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 20, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 685 total · 370 in this make and model
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 84 total · 21 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KBXK
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 9.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.