# NTSB NYC04LA015: Harris BRC 540C, N540CX, Leesburg, VA, October 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 20, 2003, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Leesburg, VA - Coordinates: 39.078056, -77.557502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0781&lon=-77.5575&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-21 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58226 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58226/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot in command's failure to maintain directional control and his inadvertent activation of the right rudder pedal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - rudder - inadvertent deactivation, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The owner was neither rated nor current to fly the gyrocopter. The pilot was seated in the right seat, and the owner was seated in the left seat. The owner flew a left hand traffic pattern for the runway, and the pilot took control of the gyrocopter for touchdown. However, during the transition of control, the pilot's feet entangled in the rudder pedals. After touchdown, the gyrocopter began to drift right. The pilot attempted to correct the drift by depressing the left rudder pedal. However, the pilot accidentally depressed the owner's right rudder pedal, rather than his own left rudder pedal. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2003, about 1430 eastern daylight time, an amateur built BRC 540C gyrocopter, N540CX, was substantially damaged while landing at Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger/owner were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the owner was neither rated nor current to fly the gyrocopter. The pilot was seated in the right seat, and the owner was seated in the left seat. The rotor blades had recently been re-balanced, and the pilot and owner were conducting local test flights in the airport traffic pattern. The owner flew a left hand traffic pattern for runway 17 at JYO, and the pilot took control of the gyrocopter to make a full stop landing. During the next circuit, the owner flew another left hand pattern for runway 17, and the pilot took control of the gyrocopter for touchdown. Shortly after touchdown, the gyrocopter yawed right, rolled left, and came to rest on its left side about 10 feet from the right edge of the runway. The rotor system and left fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated that it was possible his feet became entangled in the rudder pedals. The owner stated that after touchdown, the gyrocopter began to drift right. The pilot attempted to correct the drift by depressing the left rudder pedal. However, the pilot accidentally depressed the owner's right rudder pedal, rather than his own left rudder pedal. The reported wind at JYO, at 1424, was from 210 degrees at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N540CX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N540CX), registered now, S/N 376, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Harris BRC 540C - Registry model: [Harris William Paul BRC 540C](https://openairdocs.org/model/harris-william-paul-brc-540c) (registry code 05607LZ) (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: 376 - Airframe hours: 42 - Engines: Subaru EJ 25 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William P. Harris - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2003, 42 hours before - Departed: JYO, Leesburg, VA - Destination: JYO - Airport: JYO, Leesburg Executive Airport, runway 17, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 12, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 2,666 total, 8 in this make and model, 2,666 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 12, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: JYO ## 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 20031020032739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031020032739A), Oct 20, 2003: Amtr BRC540C, Leesburg, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) N540CX experienced damage after landing at Leesburg airport when the left foot of the pilot was unable to apply left rudder and steer the nose wheel to… 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.