# NTSB WPR09CA232: Atkins John RAF 2000 G, N1435X, South Prairie, WA, May 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 9, 2009, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: South Prairie, WA - Coordinates: 47.152221, -122.093887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1522&lon=-122.0939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73797/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73797 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA232 ## Probable cause The pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid a collision that resulted in an airspeed reduction and subsequent loss of lift provided by the rotor system. Contributing to the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout for other aircraft in the traffic pattern. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05610KD), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff initial climb from the uncontrolled airport, at 50 feet above ground level, he heard the sound of an airplane coming towards him from the left and saw a shadow of the airplane on the ground merging with his, and initiated an abrupt turn of 90 degrees to the right to avoid a collision. Upon completion of the turn, the pilot noticed that he had lost a significant amount of airspeed and was heading toward a residential structure. The pilot initiated a second turn to the right to miss the house and attempted to regain airspeed. Subsequently, the gyroplane impacted terrain adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the flight control system or engine prior to the accident. A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported that another aircraft was apparently making a high-speed pass over the runway and overflew the gyroplane as it was taking off. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during takeoff initial climb from the uncontrolled airport, at 50 feet above ground level (agl), he heard the sound of an airplane coming towards him from the left and saw a shadow of the airplane on the ground merging with his, and initiated an abrupt turn of 90 degrees to the right to avoid a collision. Upon completion of the turn, the pilot noticed he had lost a significant amount of airspeed and was heading towards a residential structure. The pilot initiated a second turn to the right to miss the house and attempt to regain airspeed. Subsequently, the gyroplane impacted terrain adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the flight control system or engine prior to the accident. A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported that another aircraft was apparently making a high speed pass over the runway and overflew the gyroplane as it was taking off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1435X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1435X-2010-01-11), registration cancelled 2010-01-11, S/N H2-00-11-450, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ATKINS JOHN RAF 2000 G - Registry model: [Atkins John RAF 2000 GTX](https://openairdocs.org/model/atkins-john-raf-2000-gtx) (registry code 05610KD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: H2-00-11-450 - Airframe hours: 381 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rogers Randall H - Registered owner: Rogers Randall H - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2009, 5 hours before - Departed: 02WA, South Prairie, WA - Destination: S50, Auburn, WA - Airport: 02WA, Cawley South Prairie, runway 34, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 420 total, 337 in this make and model, 342 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Observed at: PLU, 10 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 20090509004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090509004949A), May 9, 2009: Amtr RAF2000GTX, South Prairie, WA, Destroyed. (-23) On 05/09/2009 at approximately 13:45 PDT a raf 2000 gtx gyrocopter, serial number H2-00-11-450, operated by [privacy data omitted] lost control after… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73797. 771 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 534 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-On Scene View of Gryoplane (item 3, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-On%20Scene%20View%20of%20Gryoplane-Master.PDF 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.