# NTSB NYC01LA108: Bensen Gyroplane, N8184, Watertown, NY, April 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 2001, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Watertown, NY - Coordinates: 43.96915, -75.910095 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9691&lon=-75.9101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52142 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52142/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA108 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in rotary wing aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - grass - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The owner and pilot transported the homebuilt gyroplane to the practice area. The pilot preflighted the gyroplane, started the engine, and then taxied to an open field to conduct some taxi work for about an hour. Once comfortable with the taxi characteristics of the gyroplane, the pilot did about 20 short flights. The flights were straight ahead and approximately 2 feet in altitude. The pilot then reported to the owner that he was happy with the gyroplane's performance, and was going to attempt some longer flights. On the first flight, the gyroplane reached an altitude of about 4 feet, and traveled approximately 100 yards straight ahead. The gyroplane touched down, made a left turn, and then taxied back for another flight. On the second flight, the gyroplane reached an altitude of about 4 feet, but after traveling approximately 100 yards, it entered a left bank. The main-rotor contacted the ground, the pilot was ejected, and the gyroplane came to rest. During the examination of the wreckage, flight control continuity was confirmed. The pilot had no prior rotorcraft experience. In addition, he did not have a rotorcraft rating, nor was he required to. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2001, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Bensen Gyroplane, N8184, was substantially damaged while maneuvering over an open field near Watertown, New York. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the owner, the day before the accident, he inspected the gyroplane for approximately 3 hours, and ran the engine for approximately 2 hours in preparation of flying the gyroplane. To facilitate transporting the gyroplane to the planned practice area, the owner detached the blades by removing the blade-retaining bolts. The next day, the owner and the pilot transported the gyroplane to the practice area, and reinstalled the blades. The pilot preflighted the gyroplane, and then started the engine. He let the engine idle for approximately 15 minutes, and then taxied to an open field to conduct some taxi work. The pilot taxied for an hour to get the feel of the gyroplane, and to insure there were no hidden obstacles in the grass. Once comfortable with the taxi characteristics, the pilot did about 20 short flights. The flights were straight ahead and approximately 2 feet in altitude. The pilot then reported to the owner that he was happy with the gyroplane's performance, and was going to attempt some longer flights. On the first flight, the gyroplane reached an altitude of about 4 feet, and traveled approximately 100 yards straight ahead. The gyroplane touched down, made a left turn and taxied back for another flight. On the second flight, the gyroplane reached an altitude of about 4 feet, but after traveling approximately 100 yards, it entered a left bank. The main-rotor contacted the ground, the pilot was ejected, and the gyroplane came to rest. The owner added that all the flights were conducted into the wind, and that the pilot had not flow a gyroplane prior to the day of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that examined the wreckage, flight control continuity was confirmed. In addition, the inspector identified no preimpact malfunctions or failures that could have influenced the accident According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He did not possess a rotorcraft rating. the pilot's last FAA third class medical application was dated August 7, 2000. An autopsy was preformed on the pilot, by Dr. Alon Virgilio, M.D. on April 27, 2001, at the Medical Examiners Office in Watertown, New York. A toxicological test was performed on the pilot by the FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on July 18, 2001. According to FAA Regulation 14 CFR Part 61.31, to serve as the pilot in command of an aircraft, a person must hold the appropriate category, class, and type rating for the aircraft to be flown, except when operating an aircraft under the authority of an experimental type certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8184](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8184-2001-05-14), registration cancelled 2001-05-14, S/N T0053882 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bensen Aircraft Corp. Gyroplane - Registry model: [Bensen B-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/bensen-b-8) (registry code 13005ZX) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: T0053882 - Engines: Volkswagen reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffery Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, Watertown, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 20, 2000; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 600 total, 584 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: ART, 7 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 20010427016839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010427016839A), Apr 27, 2001: Watertown, NY, No damage. (-23) Pilot had been taxiing aircraft up and down a ten acre field "getting the feel of it". Pilot attained an altitude of approximately 4 feet and started 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.