# NTSB SEA03LA191: Levick RAF 2000 GTX-SE, N24DN, Bonners Ferry, ID, September 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 2003, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Bonners Ferry, ID - Coordinates: 48.728332, -116.292778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7283&lon=-116.2928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57983/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA191 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in the gyrocraft departing the runway and the main rotor impacting the ground. A contributing factor was wind gusts. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis The student pilot departed on a solo flight in the gyrocraft and made several practice landings before departing the pattern. On his return leg he encountered some gusty wind conditions and decided to terminate the flight. During the landing flare the gyrocraft veered to the right. The student applied full throttle and, believing the nose was going to impact the ground, pitched up into a nose high attitude. The gyrocraft's main rotor then impacted the ground and the gyrocraft came to rest on a short stub taxiway. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 2003, approximately 0845 Pacific daylight time, a Levick RAF 2000 GTX-SE gyrocraft, N24DN, registered to and being flown by a student pilot, incurred substantial damage during a loss of control while landing on runway 20 at the Boundary County airport, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The student pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was instructional, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and originated from the Boundary County airport approximately 0745. The student pilot reported that he decided to make a solo flight and after completing several takeoffs and landings he flew north about 8-10 miles and back. On his return leg he reported encountering some gusty winds and decided to terminate the flight. He reported that during the landing flare (runway 20) the gyro "...turned quickly to the right, probably from a gust of wind...." Rather than land off the runway the student applied full throttle and, thinking the nose was going to impact the ground, he pulled back on the stick resulting in a nose high attitude. Immediately thereafter the main rotor struck the ground and the gyrocraft came to rest on a short stub taxiway. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the gyrocraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24DN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24DN-2008-04-24), registration cancelled 2008-04-24, S/N H2-98-9-340, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Levick RAF 2000 GTX-SE - Registry model: [Levick F Walter RAF 2000 GTX-SE](https://openairdocs.org/model/levick-f-walter-raf-2000-gtx-se) (registry code 05615B2) (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: H2-98-9-340 - Airframe hours: 158 - Engines: Subaru EJ22 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nystrom, Donald O. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 3, 2003, 1 hours before - Departed: 65S, Bonners Ferry, ID - Destination: 65S - Airport: 65S, Boundary County, runway 20, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 64; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: SZT, 28 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 20030919023729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030919023729A), Sep 19, 2003: Amtr RAF2000GTXSE, Bonners Ferry, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 19, 2003 at approximately 0845 local time, while landing at the boundry cunty airport runway 20, Mr. Donald o. nystrom a student pilot lost… ## Other investigations on N24DN (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 CHI08LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA052), Dec 14, 2007: Levick RAF-2000-GTX-SE (N24DN), Salem, IN, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyroplane during climbout after takeoff. 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.