# NTSB MIA01LA134: David G. Holmes Bensen Gyrocopter, N218DH, Troy, AL, April 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2001, 19:00 local (Apr 22, 2001, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Troy, AL - Coordinates: 31.759885, -85.999122 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7599&lon=-85.9991&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52164/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA134 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during the approach resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor in the accident was the loss of engine power during final approach due to undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he performed a power-off approach to the 10th fairway but just before touchdown he elected to fly closer to the club house and pitched the nose up then added power but the engine did not respond. A high sink rate developed resulting in a hard landing. The gyrocopter then began to wobble resulting in main rotor blade contact with the grass fairway. The gyrocopter then rolled over and a postcrash fire damaged one of the main rotor blades, the main rotor pitch change assembly, and the carburetor. He further stated that there was no flight control preimpact failure or malfunction and he believes the engine quit during the approach due to "flooding", as it had happened before. He also stated that he should have added power before pitching up to air taxi. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2001, about 1900 central daylight time, a Bensen gyrocopter, N218DH, registered to a private individual, landed hard, bounced then rolled over after touchdown on a golf fairway at the Troy County Club, Troy, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The gyrocopter was substantially damaged and the airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes earlier from the Brundidge Municipal Airport, Brundidge, Alabama. The pilot stated that he performed a power-off approach to the 10th fairway, but just before touchdown he elected to fly closer to the club house and pitched the nose up then added power, but the engine did not respond. A high sink rate developed resulting in a hard landing. The gyrocopter then began to wobble, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the grass fairway. The gyrocopter then rolled over and a postcrash fire damaged one of the main rotor blades, the main rotor pitch change assembly, and the carburetor. He further stated that there was no flight control preimpact failure or malfunction and he believes the engine quit during the approach due to "flooding", as it had happened before. He also stated that he should have added power before pitching up to air taxi. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N218DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N218DH-2017-06-14), registration cancelled 2017-06-14, S/N 1, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: David G. Holmes Bensen Gyrocopter - Registry model: [Holmes David G BENSEN GYROCOPTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/holmes-david-g-bensen-gyrocopter) (registry code 05610EF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Engines: Subaru EA-81 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David G. Holmes - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 60A, Brundidge, AL - Destination: Troy, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; flight hours: 5,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KTOI, 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 20010421010019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010421010019A), Apr 21, 2001: Amtr BENSENB8*, Troy, AL, Substantial damage. (.19)On April 21, 2001, about 1900 central daylight time, a bensen gyrocopter, N218DH, registered to a private individual, rolled over after touchdown on a… 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.