# NTSB GAA18CA484: Airgyro Tercel, N557AT, Spanish Fork, UT, August 9, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2018, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.141666, -111.66278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1417&lon=-111.6628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA484 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98052/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98052 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA484 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and yaw control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airgyro TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05636TU), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airgyro TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=05636TU), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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: [Airgyro TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636TU), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Airgyro TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05636TU), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Airgyro TERCEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05636TU), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot of the gyroplane reported that, during takeoff, he pulled the stick back and advanced the throttle to full. He accelerated and noticed "there was no tendency for the nose to rise," so he applied back pressure, and the gyroplane immediately turned left, rolled onto its side, and skidded off the runway to the left. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the main 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. The flight instructor provided a video of the student pilot's accident takeoff. The video showed the gyroplane accelerating down the runway, rapidly pitching up, and immediately rotating to the left before impacting the runway. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot of the gyroplane reported that, during takeoff, he pulled the stick back and advanced the throttle to full. He accelerated and noticed "there was no tendency for the nose to rise", so he applied back pressure and the gyroplane immediately turned left, rolled onto its side, and skidded off the runway to the left. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor provided a video of the student pilot's accident takeoff. The video showed the gyroplane accelerating down the runway, rapidly pitching up, and immediately rotating to the left before impacting the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N557AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N557AT-2020-01-15), registration cancelled 2020-01-15, S/N T&S F26817S, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRGYRO AVIATION LLC TERCEL - Registry model: [Airgyro TERCEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/airgyro-tercel) (registry code 05636TU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane - Serial number: T&S F26817S - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 189 - Engines: Rotax 912 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 2018 - Departed: SPK, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: SPK, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: SPK, Spanish Fork Arpt Springville-, runway 30, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 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 20180809010519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180809010519A), Aug 9, 2018: Airgyro Aviation LLC TERCEL, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. Student pilot was to fly his first solo flight. He met with his CFI prior to the flight and discussed weather and the plan for the flight the was to occur. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98052. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.