# NTSB MIA93LA172: Love, Sanford W. Dominator, N44162, Okeechobee, FL, August 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1993, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Coordinates: 27.49999, -80.929367 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5000&lon=-80.9294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37380
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37380/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA172

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ROTOR SPEED WHILE REVERSING DIRECTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground
- Roll over, other

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FLYING NORTHBOUND AT 200 TO 300 FEET, AT 50 MPH WITH A 25 TO 30 KNOT SOUTHEASTERLY WIND. THIS WAS 5 TO 10 KNOTS SLOWER THAN HIS NORMAL CRUISE SPEED. HE MADE A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST WHICH PLACED THE GYROCOPTER DOWNWIND. AS HE COMPLETED THE TURN THE GYROCOPTER BEGAN TO DESCEND RAPIDLY. BEFORE RECOVERY COULD BE MADE THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED A PALM TREE AND THE GYROCOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE GYROCOPTER THEN ROLLED ON TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST. ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING THE TURN WHICH RESULTED IN THE RAPID DESCENT.

## Factual narrative

On August 7, 1993, at 1930 eastern daylight time, a Sanford W. Love Dominator gyrocopter, N44162, registered to Sanford W. Love, crashed while cruising near Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Okeechobee, Florida on August 7, 1993, at 1900.

The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 200 TO 300 feet, flying around Lake Okeechobee in formation with another gyrocopter. He was flying at 50 MPH, a speed about 5 to 10 knots slower than his normal cruise speed, to maintain formation. They elected to reverse course and as he turned downwind the gyrocopter "started falling out of sky." The wind was from the southeast at 25 to 30 knots. The gyrocopter descended rapidly and before he could recover the main rotor impacted a palm tree and the gyrocopter impacted the ground. The gyrocopter then rolled on to the right side and came to rest.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44162](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44162), registered now, S/N 427427 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOVE, SANFORD W. DOMINATOR
- Registry model: [Love Sanford W DOMINATOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/love-sanford-w-dominator) (registry code 05620BD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 427427
- Airframe hours: 11
- Engines: ROTAX 503 52 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Love, Sanford W.
- Registered owner: Love, Sanford W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000, 11 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 11 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 52 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 19930807028149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930807028149A), Aug 7, 1993: Amtr DOMINATOR, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. Low and slow over lake shore. Began downwind turn. Stall mushed into a palm tree and crashed.

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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