# NTSB GAA18CA073: Brock Steiner Sport Copter Vortex, N395SC, Spanish Fork, UT, December 8, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 7, 2017, 18:10 local (Dec 8, 2017, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.074443, -111.579719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0744&lon=-111.5797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96441 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96441/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96441 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA073 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain situational and geographic awareness during the flight, which resulted in him becoming lost and exhausting the gyroplane’s fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=05615E7), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the experimental amateur-built gyroplane, during a solo cross-country flight, he became lost and decided to follow a nearby highway. Unfamiliar with the area, he exhausted the gyroplane's fuel supply and landed on a highway. The gyroplane's nosewheel struck a passing car, but the gyroplane was able to touch down and stop on the right shoulder of the highway. A passing semi-truck struck the rotor blades of the gyroplane. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the experimental amateur-built gyroplane, during a solo cross-country flight, he became lost and decided to follow a nearby highway. Unfamiliar with the area, he exhausted the gyroplane's fuel supply, and landed on a highway. The gyroplane's nose wheel struck a passing car, but the gyroplane was able to touch down, and stop on the right shoulder of the highway. A passing semi-truck struck the rotor blades of the gyroplane. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N395SC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N395SC), registered now, S/N 095 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROCK STEINER Sport Copter Vortex - Registry model: [Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/steiner-brock-sport-copter-vortex) (registry code 05615E7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 095 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 141 - Engines: Rotax 99 / 582 UL D 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 16, 2017 - Departed: 41U, Manti, UT - Destination: U14, Nephi, UT - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 218 total, 17 in this make and model, 124 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.62 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 11 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 20171207016239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171207016239A), Dec 7, 2017: Steiner Brock SPORT COPTER VORTEX, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. On 12/07/2017 at 1819 MST, N395SC, an experimental amateur built Sport Copter Vortex experienced fuel exhaustion and attempted a landing on us 89. The aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96441. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- 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.