# NTSB GAA17CA259: Curtis Lund Vortex, N514CL, Spanish Fork, UT, May 4, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 4, 2017, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Coordinates: 40.144721, -111.666946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1447&lon=-111.6669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95112
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95112/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95112
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA259

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Curtis Lund VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633HN), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Curtis Lund VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05633HN), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Curtis Lund VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05633HN), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that he flared the gyroplane too high and landed hard and that the gyroplane subsequently tipped over on its right side. He added that he evacuated the gyroplane before a postimpact fire ensued and destroyed the gyroplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that he flared too high, landed hard, and the gyroplane tipped over on its right side. He added that he evacuated the gyroplane before a post-impact fire ensued and destroyed the gyroplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N514CL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N514CL-2020-08-02), registration cancelled 2020-08-02, S/N CL001, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CURTIS LUND VORTEX (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Curtis Lund VORTEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtis-lund-vortex) (registry code 05633HN) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CL001
- Year built: 2014
- Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 2016
- Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT
- Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT
- Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville-Woodh, runway 30, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: single

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KPVU, 5 nm away

## 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 20170504006729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170504006729A), May 4, 2017: Curtis Lund VORTEX, Spanish Fork, UT, Destroyed. The student pilot was practicing a normal landing to a runway but flared too high. The aircraft then landed hard and tipped over on its side. The pilot stated…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95112. 575 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453014&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF

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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