# NTSB NYC02LA049: Stiles Choctaw, N97CS, Danville, KY, January 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 22, 2002, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Danville, KY - Coordinates: 37.639362, -84.769157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6394&lon=-84.7692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54059/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54059 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA049 ## Probable cause Failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - engine assembly,bearing - failure (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, a steady stream of dark gray smoke was seen emanating from the homebuilt gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then turned left, climbed, and appeared to be returning to the airport. However, it impacted a field about 1 mile south of the airport. An FAA inspector examined the engine. When he attempted to rotate the crankshaft by hand, a metal binding was heard. Further examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod bearing had seized in the number one cylinder. The non-certificated engine had been removed from an automobile, and installed on the gyrocopter by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 2002, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Chocktaw homebuilt gyrocopter, N97CS, was substantially damage during a forced landing in Danville, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Stuart Powell Field (DVK), Danville, Kentucky. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. An off-duty Kentucky State Police trooper stated that he witnessed the accident flight. He was traveling north on a road adjacent to the airport between 1430 and 1445, and saw a small yellow gyrocopter ascend from DVK. The gyrocopter made a left turn, and flew overhead. As it passed overhead, the trooper observed a steady stream of dark gray smoke emanating from the gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then appeared to make a left turn and climb as if it was going back toward the airport. The trooper then lost site of the gyrocopter. The wreckage was located in a field about 1 mile south of DVK, and examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector observed the wreckage inverted, and canted toward its right side. Due to impact damage, he was unable to confirm flight control continuity. The inspector added that the gyrocopter was equipped with a Subaru EJ22 engine, and two separate fuel tanks. The fuel tanks were ruptured, and a strong odor of fuel was present at the accident site. The rotor blades sustained minor damage, and the propeller was not damaged. The inspector was able to rotate the engine crankshaft approximately 30 degrees, but heard metal binding inside the engine. The pilot's brother further examined the engine. He stated that the connecting rod bearing had seized in the number one cylinder. The pilot's brother added that he did not know the age of the engine, but that the pilot removed it from an automobile and installed it in the gyrocopter. The pilot's logbook was not recovered. However, according to his brother, the pilot had a total flight experience of approximately 6,500 hours. Of which, about 500-700 hours were in gyrocopters. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Boyle County Coroner's Office, Danville, Kentucky. Toxicological testing was conducted at the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97CS-2007-09-17), registration cancelled 2007-09-17, S/N 0001, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stiles Choctaw - Registry model: [Stiles Casey C CHOCTAW](https://openairdocs.org/model/stiles-casey-c-choctaw) (registry code 05628QW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Airframe hours: 175 - Engines: Subaru EJ22 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Casey C. Stiles - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2000, 66 hours before - Departed: DVK, Danville, KY - Airport: DVK, Stuart Powell Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: fatal; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,400 total, 175 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: DVK, 1 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 20020122001789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020122001789A), Jan 22, 2002: Amtr CHOCTAW, Danville, KY, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) On jan 22, 2002, an accident occurred involving N97CS, an amateur built rotorcraft (Choctaw) mms 05628QW. The single occupant/pilot, casey stiles,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54059. 1.0 MB in all. - Interview Summaries (item 1, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 720 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 4, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.