- Date
- September 17, 2008, 17:00 local (Sep 18, 2008, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mulino, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N554BGGoetz RAF 2000
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 10, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080917846529A
- Case key
- 68949
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was conducting flight tests on the gyrocopter. After performing a series of high-speed taxi tests and takeoffs, the pilot brought the gyrocopter around in the pattern for a landing. As the gyrocopter landed, it veered to the right and came to rest on its side. Post accident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator did not reveal any control anomalies. The gyrocopter had approximately 40 hours of flight time, and the pilot had 11 hours in make and model.
Factual narrative
The pilot submitted a written statement and reported that he was conducting flight tests on the gyrocopter. After performing a series of high-speed taxis and lift-offs, the pilot brought the gyrocopter around in the pattern. As the gyrocopter landed, it veered to the right and came to rest on its side. Post accident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator did not reveal any control anomalies. The gyrocopter had approximately 40 hours of flight time, and the pilot had 11 hours in make and model.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N554BG
- Reported as
- Goetz RAF 2000
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- H2-05-16-643
- Engine
- Subaru EJ22, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 4S9 · Malino, OR
- Destination
- 4S9 · Malino, OR
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 4S9 · Portland-Mulino, runway 32, 3,425 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 168 total · 11 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.84 inHg
- Observed at
- USA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.