- Date
- May 4, 2017, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Stevensville, MD
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N991TCAutogyro Calidus
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 20, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170504006819A
- Case key
- 95111
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 improper takeoff procedure, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff.
Findings · 5
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 pilot of the gyrocopter reported that, during the takeoff roll, the rotor rpm was not increasing. He continued the takeoff and kept the gyrocopter on the ground to gain airspeed by not moving the stick to the full-aft position. He added that this was an "old existing airplane habit." Subsequently, during the takeoff, the gyrocopter developed a "rotor flap," and he lost directional control. The gyrocopter came to rest on its side to the left of the runway. The pilot added that not having the stick full aft prevented the rotor rpm from increasing and that the appropriate corrective action would have been to apply full-aft stick. The gyrocopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotors. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation. The gyrocopter's Flight Manual stated that, during the takeoff roll, the pilot must "bring the control stick fully aft."
Factual narrative
The pilot of the gyrocopter reported that during the takeoff roll, the rotor RPM was not increasing. He continued the takeoff and kept the gyrocopter on the ground to gain airspeed by not moving the stick in the full aft position. He added that this was an "old existing airplane habit". Subsequently, during the takeoff the gyrocopter developed a "rotor flap" and he lost directional control. The gyrocopter came to rest on its side to the left of the runway. The pilot added that not having the stick full aft prevented the rotor RPM from increasing, and the appropriate corrective action would have been to apply full aft stick. The gyrocopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotors. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation. The Gyrocopter's Flight Manual states that during the takeoff roll, the pilot must "bring the control stick fully aft".
Aircraft
- Registration
- N991TC
- Reported as
- Autogyro Calidus
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Serial number
- US-C00483
- Built
- 2017
- Airframe hours
- 17.8
- Engine
- Rotax 914UL, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · March 24, 2017
- Departed
- W29 · Stevensville, MD
- Destination
- W29 · Stevensville, MD
- Airport
- W29 · Bay Bridge Airport, runway 11, 2,713 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- 60
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 12, 2016
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,435 total · 12 in this make and model · 3,279 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KW29, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.