# NTSB MIA79FLD62: Bensen Gyro B-8M, N6820A, Mulberry, FL, May 6, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1979
- Place: Mulberry, FL · MULBERRY, FL
- Location: 27.9054° N, 81.9883° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mulberry, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9054&lon=-81.9883&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FLD62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FLD62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0792   79/5/6  NR.MULBERRY,FL        BENSEN GYRO B-8M    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 59,
        TIME - 1440                    N6820A              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  1252 TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CIRCLE X
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
         MULBERRY,FL                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (OWNER PERSONNEL)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: MAIN ROTOR HEAD ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- M/R CONTROL ROD FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6820A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6820A-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 1, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSEN GYRO B-8M
- Registry model: [Castner BENSEN B-8M](https://openairdocs.org/model/castner-bensen-b-8m) (registry code 1300841) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Circle X

## 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 19790506009749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790506009749A), May 6, 1979: Amtrbx BENSENB8M, Mulberry, FL, Substantial damage. Acft was seen to dive into the ground. Found old break in the control rod to the main rotor.

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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