- Date
- April 14, 2018, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- La Grange, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N3PWSmith Dennis P Magni M24
- Defining event
- Taxi-into takeoff position: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180414009709A
- Case key
- 97059
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 failure to maintain lateral control while taxiing onto the runway in gusting wind conditions.
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 gyroplane pilot reported that, during taxi to the runway for takeoff, he began the pre-rotation of the rotor. As he turned the gyroplane to the right onto the runway, a "strong gust" of wind tilted the gyroplane to the left, and the rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the gyroplane came to rest on its left side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 17 knots, gusting 26 knots. The gyroplane was departing runway 34.
Factual narrative
The gyroplane pilot reported that, during taxi to the runway for takeoff, he began the pre-rotation of the rotor. He added that, as he turned the gyroplane to the right onto the runway, a "strong gust" of wind tilted the gyroplane to the left, and the rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the gyroplane came to rest on its left side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 17 knots, gusting 26 knots. The gyroplane was departing runway 34.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3PW
- Reported as
- Smith Dennis P Magni M24 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 24-10-5934
- Built
- 2011
- Airframe hours
- 650
- Engine
- Rotax 914, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 3T5 · La Grange, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 3T5 · Fayette Rgnl Air Center, runway 34, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Sport Pilot, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,550 total · 450 in this make and model · 1,550 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- K3T5
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.0 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.