NYC85LA154

NTSB accident investigation · McCulloch J-2 · Cortland, NY · June 23, 1985

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: June 23, 1985, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
Place: Cortland, NY
Injuries: 3 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Taxi
Aircraft: N4328GMcCulloch J-2
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19850623027069A
Case key: 35897

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Propeller/rotor contact to personTaxi - to takeoff

Rotor drive system,main rotor drive belt - undeterminedFactor

Adequate rotor rpm - not obtainedPilot in commandCause

Engine instrument - inaccuratePilot in commandCause

Roll overTaxi - to takeoff

Rotor system,main rotor blade - disabledFactor

Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

According to the pilot, the rotor blade contacted the tail rudders because of insufficient rotor speed. The rotor bladeswere thrown out of track and the gyroplane lost control. The insufficient rotor RPM was due to a rotor or pulley belt stripping.

Aircraft

Registration: N4328G
Reported as: McCulloch J-2
Category: Gyroplane
Serial number: 038
Airframe hours: 271
Engine: Lycoming O-360-A20, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Scott Powers
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · May 30, 1985
Airport: runway 00

N4328GRegistration cancelled Jan 12, 1989 · Mcculloch J-2S/N 038 Airframe modelMcculloch J-2

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: 35
Certificate: Student
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 143 total · 18 in this make and model · 116 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 81 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19850623027069AAerors J2MCCULH · Homer, NYLost control and rolled over after rotor blades contacted tail rudders. Rotator pulley belts were slipping.Jun 23, 1985 · N4328G · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N4328G · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI77FEC39Accident · No injuriesClosedFlint, MIJun 26, 1977 · Substantial damage