# NTSB MIA00LA068: Dana A. Moore Danamite, N6407C, Smyrna, TN, January 16, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 16, 2000, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Smyrna, TN
- Coordinates: 35.980079, -86.509429 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9801&lon=-86.5094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48501
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48501/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA068

## Probable cause

the pilot's excessive taxiing speed and failure to maintain adequate clearance from objects, resulting in the gyroplane's main rotor colliding with a fence and subsequent damage to the aircraft.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - fence

## Analysis

The pilot stated that after completing the first flight in his recently constructed gyroplane that he was taxiing expeditiously back to the hangar and did not take into account the wet taxiway, or the tail wind. The pilot said that while taxiing the gyroplane the nose wheel did not turn as he would have liked, and the aircraft drifted close to a fence and the rotor made contact with the fence, destroying the aircraft. The FAA inspector who conducted a postcrash examination of the gyroplane, confirmed that the aircraft was destroyed as a result of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On January 16, 2000, about 1300 central standard time, a Dana A. Moore Danamite, N6407C, registered to a private owner, and operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, hit a fence during taxiing operations at Smyrna, Tennessee.  Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan was filed. The gyroplane was destroyed, and the private-rated pilot was not injured.  The flight originated the same day, about 1245.

The pilot stated that after completing the first flight in his recently constructed gyroplane that he was taxiing expeditiously back to the hangar and did not take into account the wet taxiway, or the tail wind. The pilot said that while taxiing the gyroplane, the nosewheel did not turn as he would have liked, and the aircraft drifted close to a fence and the rotor made contact with the fence, destroying the aircraft. The FAA inspector who conducted a postcrash examination of the gyroplane, confirmed that the aircraft was destroyed as a result of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6407C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6407C-2003-04-22), registration cancelled 2003-04-22, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DANA A. MOORE DANAMITE
- Registry model: [Moore Dana A DANAMITE](https://openairdocs.org/model/moore-dana-a-danamite) (registry code 0560702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: Northrop Corp 43/8F/0-100-3 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dana A. Moore
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: MQY
- Airport: MQY, Smyrna Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,211 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,104 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQY

## 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 20000116000259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000116000259A), Jan 16, 2000: Amtr DANAMITE, Smyrna, TN, Destroyed. (.19) On January 16, 2000, about 1300 central standard time, a dana a moore Danamite, N6407C, registered to a private owner, and oeprated as a 14 CFR part 91…

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.

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