# NTSB SEA05LA044: Smuz RAF 2000 GTX SE, N26AV, Puyallup, WA, February 3, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2005, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Puyallup, WA - Coordinates: 47.104167, -122.287223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1042&lon=-122.2872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60971 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60971/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged flare followed by an oscillation which damaged the aircraft. ## Analysis The pilot said that he had approximately 1,800 hours of flight experience in helicopters, and was a flight instructor for the army. He was adding the gyroplane rating. He had 13 hours of training, and this was his first solo flight. He said that on his third landing, he was performing a power off 180 degree landing. He said that he flared one to two feet higher than planned, and he added a little power to "smooth out" the touchdown. When the power came in, the engine torque rotated the nose of the gyroplane to the right. The right main gear hit the ground, and the aircraft bounced back and fourth on its main landing gear. Subsequently, the gyroplane rolled onto its right side bending its blades, mast, and horizontal and vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2005, at approximately 1000 Pacific standard time, a Smuz, RAF 2000 GTX SE, amateur-built gyroplane, N26AV, was substantially damaged when it rolled onto its right side during a hard landing at Pierce County-Thun Field, Puyallup, Washington. The airline transport pilot trainee, the sole occupant in the gyroplane, was not injured. Latah, Inc., was operating the gyroplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, instructional-solo flight, that had originated approximately 15 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he had approximately 1,800 hours of flight experience in helicopters, and was a flight instructor for the army. He was adding the gyroplane rating. He had 13 hours of training, and this was his first solo flight. He said that on his third landing, he was performing a power off 180 degree landing. He said that he flared one to two feet higher than planned, and he added a little power to "smooth out" the touchdown. When the power came in, the engine torque rotated the nose of the gyroplane to the right. The right main gear hit the ground, and the aircraft bounced back and fourth on its main landing gear. Subsequently, the gyroplane rolled onto its right side bending its blades, mast, and horizontal and vertical stabilizer. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26AV-2006-08-03), registration cancelled 2006-08-03, S/N H2-97-8-297, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Smuz RAF 2000 GTX SE - Registry model: [Smuz Anthony F SR RAF 2000 GTX SE](https://openairdocs.org/model/smuz-anthony-f-sr-raf-2000-gtx-se) (registry code 05610D9) (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: H2-97-8-297 - Airframe hours: 413 - Engines: Subaru EJ22 107 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Latah, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, February 1, 2005, 349 hours before - Departed: S5O, Auburn, WA - Destination: 1SO, Puyallup, WA - Airport: 1S0, Pierce Co./Thun Field, runway 16, 3,650 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 25, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,126 total, 13 in this make and model, 1,283 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: TCM, 8 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 20050203000429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050203000429A), Feb 3, 2005: Amtr RAF2000GTXSE, Puyallup, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated during initial solo, after two successful landings, he attempted a power off 180-degree approach that was good, but he flared the aircraft a… 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.