# NTSB OAK78DVM49: Benson B8M, N1450, Watsonville, CA, September 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1978
- Place: Watsonville, CA · WATSONVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.9236° N, 121.7724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watsonville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9236&lon=-121.7724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78DVM49
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DVM49

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2514  78/9/23  NR.WATSONVILLE,CA     BENSON B8M          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 68, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1330                    N1450               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 180 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALINAS                    WATSONVILLE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: PISTON,PISTON RINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- VW ENGINE HAD BROKEN #3 PISTON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1450](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1450-1980-04-23), registration cancelled 1980-04-23, S/N 1, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSON B8M
- Registry model: [Culbertson B-8M GYROCOPTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/culbertson-b-8m-gyrocopter) (registry code 1300729) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780923028399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780923028399A), Sep 23, 1978: Amtr 1300729, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Vw engine had broken #3 piston.

## Other investigations on N1450 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX79FVM27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FVM27), Jun 17, 1979: Bensen B8M (N1450), Paso Robles, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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