- Date
- April 24, 1994, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bunnell, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N54WPParsons BP Gyro
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940424009139A
- Case key
- 37534
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-in-command's improper use of the flight controls during landing flare touchdown, resulting in the gyroplane touching down on the nose gear, and subsequent nose over. The loss of engine power was also a cause.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The commercial pilot/certified flight instructor and student pilot were on initial takeoff climb at about 150 to 200 feet agl on a crosswind turn when the gryoplane experienced a total loss of engine power. A forced landing was initiated and the gyroplane touched down on the nose gear, nosed over and came to rest on its right side. Examination of the gyroplane by the FAA and the pilot-in-command revealed the alternator drive belt failed for undetermined reasons, and severed the ignition wires.
Factual narrative
On April 24, 1994, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Gyroplane, N54WP, registered to William H. Parsons, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a total loss of engine power on a crosswind turn at about 150 to 200 feet agl. The pilot made a forced landing on airport property. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/certified flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Bunnell Flagler County Airport about 2 minutes before the accident.
A witness stated he observed the gyroplane take off from runway 6, and make a crosswind turn at about 150 to 200 feet agl. He observed the propeller stop, and saw the gyroplane enter a glide for a forced landing. In the flare the gyroplane collided with the terrain on the nose gear, nosed over, and came to rest on its right side.
Examination of the gyroplane by the FAA, and the pilot-in- command revealed an alternator drive belt on the engine had failed for undetermined reasons. The alternator belt severed the ignition wires, resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N54WP
- Reported as
- Parsons BP Gyro
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 128
- Airframe hours
- 1,200
- Engine
- Mazda 12A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Parsons, William H.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 15, 1993 · 40 hours before
- Airport
- X-47 · Bunnell Flagler County, runway 6, 4,755 × 200 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 650 total · 220 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 10 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.