# NTSB GAA18CA273: Christopher Lord ELA Eclipse 10, N533EA, Calhoun, GA, May 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 4, 2018, 20:00 local (May 5, 2018, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Calhoun, GA - Coordinates: 34.421665, -84.939163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4217&lon=-84.9392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97231/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97231 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA273 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a loss of altitude and necessitated a sudden descent to unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05636LG), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student gyroplane pilot reported that he "was flying behind the power curve," and the gyroplane lost altitude. He added that he couldn't tell if there were power lines ahead and decided to conduct a "hard vertical de[s]cent landing." The terrain was uneven, and the gyroplane rolled onto its side during landing. The student added that, before he decided to land, he got distracted for a few seconds and descended below a safe altitude. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor, fuselage, and empennage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student gyroplane pilot reported that, he "was flying behind the power curve," and the gyroplane lost altitude. He added that he couldn't tell if there were powerlines ahead and decided to do a "hard vertical decent landing." The terrain was uneven, and the gyroplane rolled on to its side during landing. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor, fuselage, and empennage. The student added that prior to his decision to land, he got distracted for a few seconds, and descended below a safe altitude. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failure or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N533EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N533EA-2019-04-30), registration cancelled 2019-04-30, S/N 05175331014, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTOPHER LORD ELA ECLIPSE 10 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10](https://openairdocs.org/model/christopher-lord-ela-eclipse-10) (registry code 05636LG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (registry code 55553, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 05175331014 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 75 - Engines: Rotax 914 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 1, 2017 - Departed: CZL, Calhoun, GA - Destination: CZL, Calhoun, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; student; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 150 total, 35 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KDNN, 18 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 20180504014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180504014959A), May 4, 2018: 2017 Christopher Lord ELA ECLIPSE 10, Calhoun, GA, Substantial damage. A gyrocopter had gone down in a field in Calhoun, GA. The single occupant recieved minor injuries on the left hand, wrist, arm and ribs. The only eye witness… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97231. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.