# NTSB NYC88DNE01: Lamb Commander Elite, N501JL, Meriden, CT, November 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1987, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Meriden, CT
- Location: 41.5368° N, 72.7945° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Meriden, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5368&lon=-72.7945&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88DNE01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35986/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DNE01

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER WHILE PREFORMING LOW LEVEL 'FAST TAXI' MANEUVERS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, taxi - aerial
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - maintenance,adjustment - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, taxi - aerial

## Analysis

SEVERAL WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT PERFORMING REPEATED LOW LEVEL 'FAST TAXI' MANEUVERS IN HIS HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER. THEY STATED THAT THE PILOT HOVER-TAXIED PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY AT AN ESTIMATED 4 TO 5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT 'HE SEEMED TO BE HAVING TROUBLE...HE WOULD STOP, UNBUCKLE AND EXAMINE THE ROTOR HEAD, MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS...GET BACK IN AND TAXI (AGAIN).' DURING THE LAST ATTEMPT TO FAST TAXI, THE GYROCOPTER WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT ABOUT 5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, 'THEN WENT UP INTO THE AIR APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, BUT IT WAS VERY ERRATIC...IT THEN DIVED...INTO THE GROUND.' ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE BEFORE IT 'PLUNGED TOWARDS THE GROUND AND CRASHED.' INSPECTION OF ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DID NOT SHOW ANY EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N501JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501JL-2013-07-09), registration cancelled 2013-07-09, S/N 1501 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAMB COMMANDER ELITE (COMMANDER)
- Registry model: [Lamb Jerome COMMANDER ELITE](https://openairdocs.org/model/lamb-jerome-commander-elite) (registry code 13027JA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1501
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: ROTAX GMBH 3601927 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jerome Lamb
- Airport: 4B4, Meriden Arpt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 90 total, 9 in this make and model, 55 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HFD, 17 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 19871104062279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871104062279A), Nov 4, 1987: Amtrac ELITE532, Meriden, CT, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Lost control and crashed after erratic flight on first solo climbout. Gyroplane had no airworthiness certificate.

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.

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