- Date
- April 11, 2008, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Toledo, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- UNREGSnobird Charger
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviaiton Administration
- Case key
- 67837
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 improper use of the flight controls during takeoff.
Findings · 1
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
Immediately after takeoff the single seat gyroplane tilted forward and impacted the runway. The pilot reported to a National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he did not recall the accident. His only memory was taxiing the gyroplane in preparation for departure. A witness, who was about 1/2 mile away, observed the gyroplane through binoculars. He watched the gyroplane taxi down the runway and observed the main rotor come up to speed. The pilot performed what he thought was a normal takeoff roll, but then the gyroplane popped up into the air quicker than normal. In reaction, the pilot appeared to overcorrect, overrotating the gyroplane forward, and impacting the runway. An FAA inspector examined the gyroplane after the accident and did not find any evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures.
Factual narrative
On April 11, 2008, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, an unregistered Snobird Charger gyroplane, impacted the runway immediately after takeoff at Ed Carlson Memorial Field, Toledo, Washington. The non-certificated pilot operated the gyroplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot was seriously injured, and the single seat gyroplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported to a National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he did not recall the accident. His only memory was taxing the gyroplane in preparation for departure.
A witness, who was about 1/2 mile away, observed the gyroplane through binoculars. He watched the gyroplane taxi down the runway and observed the main rotor come up to speed. The gyroplane performed what he thought was a normal takeoff roll, but then the gyroplane popped up into the air quicker than normal. In reaction the pilot appeared to overcorrect, overrotating the gyroplane forward, and impacting the runway. The witness had about 100 hours of experience in ultralight airplanes and was building his own gyroplane.
An FAA inspector examined the gyroplane after the accident and did not find any evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Snobird Charger
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Serial number
- None
- Airframe hours
- 128
- Engine
- Hirth 2706, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- David Hill
- Registered owner
- Not Registered
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- KTDO · Toledo, WA
- Airport
- KTDO · Ed Carlson Memorial Field, runway 23, 4,480 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- Serious
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 222 total · 128 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.44 inHg
- Observed at
- KCLs