- Date
- July 27, 1987, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place
- Davenport, IA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5352Watts 532 Elite
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 34297
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
Witnesses located 1/4 mi north of the accident site, observed the gyrocopter departing the Davenport, IA airport and turning to the southwest. While in cruise flight the witnesses observed the aircraft moving in an up and down motion prior to what appeared to be parts of the gyrocopter flying off. The gyrocopter then fell vertically into a cornfield. On scene investigation revealed that the rudder was struck by the main rotor blade which separated from its mounting. A nearby weather reporting station reported a wind change of nearly 80 degrees and wind gusts to 26 knots during the flight. Local operators of the same type of gyrocopter indicated the 'flight controls were extremely sensitive inflight and overcontrol is possible when in turbulent wind conditions.' No preimpact mechanical malfunctions/failures were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5352
- Reported as
- Watts 532 Elite
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 10328JW
- Airframe hours
- 13
- Engine
- Rotax 532, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- John L. Watts,Sr.
- Registered owner
- John L Watts, Sr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- DVN
- Airport
- DVN · Davenport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 263 total · 13 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MLI, 18 nm away