# NTSB SEA01LA107: Herriford RAF 2000, N2361S, Gardiner, MT, May 30, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 2001, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Gardiner, MT
- Coordinates: 45.029029, -110.699012 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0290&lon=-110.6990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Helena FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA107

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to rotate the aircraft  until he was well past the normal takeoff rotation speed, and his abrupt rotation at this higher speed.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - airspeed(vlof) - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotation - abrupt, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During the takeoff roll, the pilot failed to rotate the gyrocopter until he was well past the normal takeoff rotation speed. When he did rotate, he did so abruptly, causing the rotor blades to stall. The blades then flapped downwards, impacting the terrain and cutting the tail off the aircraft.

## Factual narrative

On May 30, 2001, approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, an experimental Herriford RAF 2000 gyrocopter, N2361S, collided with the terrain during an attempted takeoff at Gardiner Airport, Gardiner, Montana. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 recreational flight was taking place in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he inadvertently allowed the gyrocopter to remain on the ground too long during the takeoff roll by applying excessive forward cyclic. Because it was accelerating, the aircraft reached a speed greater than that at which it should have lifted off. When the pilot realized the aircraft's speed was such that it should have already lifted off, he rotated too rapidly, stalling the main rotor blades. The  blades immediately flexed downwards, impacting the ground and severing the aircraft's tail.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2361S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2361S), registered now, S/N H2-98-9-395 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Herriford RAF 2000
- Registry model: [Herriford Richard Ralph RAF 2000 GTX-SE](https://openairdocs.org/model/herriford-richard-ralph-raf-2000-gtx-se) (registry code 056073G) (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: H2-98-9-395
- Airframe hours: 72
- Engines: Subaru EV-22 130 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard R. Herriford
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 2001, 1 hours before
- Departed: 29S, Gardiner, MT
- Airport: 29S, Gardiner Airport, runway 01, 3,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,200 total, 42 in this make and model, 1,050 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 20010530011819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010530011819A), May 30, 2001: Amtr RAF2000GTXSE, Gardiner, MT, No damage. (-23)The belief of the pilot and his instructor (non-present) is that the pilot flattened the disk too much during acceleration then overly applied back stick…

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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