# NTSB WPR22LA302: Goddard Dick Sim Bensen B-8M, N532KB, Corona, CA, August 13, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 13, 2022, 12:48 local (19:48 UTC)
- Place: Corona, CA · construction site
- Coordinates: 33.89447, -117.58393 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8945&lon=-117.5839&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA302
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105731/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105731
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA302

## Probable cause

The fatigue failure of the engine mount resulting in a loss of engine power and directional control while maneuvering.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Goddard Dick Sim BENSEN B-8M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=05624KI), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Goddard Dick Sim BENSEN B-8M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05624KI), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Goddard Dick Sim BENSEN B-8M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05624KI), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Goddard Dick Sim BENSEN B-8M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05624KI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the gyroplane reported that, while in the traffic pattern and shortly after a turn onto the final approach leg, he heard and felt a “bang” and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to maintain airspeed; however, the gyroplane entered a descending, slow spin. The pilot was able to flare just before landing hard in a flat attitude. The gyroplane contacted the dirt and flipped onto its side before the rotor blades came to a stop. Postaccident examination of the engine mount revealed fatigue cracks exhibiting ratchet marks with multiple origin points emanating from the toe weld that secured two washers onto the steel tube. When the engine mount failed, it dropped several inches and allowed the propeller to strike the keel tube, severing the right rudder cable and causing a loss of directional control while maneuvering.

## Factual narrative

On August 13, 2022, about 1248 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built B-8M gyroplane, N532KB, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Corona, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, while in the traffic pattern at the Corona Municipal Airport (AJO), Corona, California, and shortly after a turn onto the final approach leg, he heard and felt a “bang” and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to maintain airspeed; however, the gyroplane entered a descending, slow spin. The pilot was able to flare just before the hard landing. The gyro contacted the dirt and the gyroplane flipped onto its side before the rotor blades came to a stop. The pilot reported that a visual inspection conducted after the accident indicated that the motor mount had sheared near the engine mounting bolts, causing it to drop several inches and allowing the propeller to strike the keel tube, severing the right rudder cable. Further postaccident examination of the engine mount revealed failure surfaces at each end of the steel tube weldment. Further examination exhibited a thumbnail shaped fatigue crack originating at the toe of the weld fillet that attached the washer to the steel tube. The fatigue crack exhibited ratchet marks indicating multiple origins. The rest of the fracture surface outside of the fatigue crack exhibited fracture features consistent with overstress. A review of the maintenance records indicated that the last inspection was completed on February 01, 2020.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N532KB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N532KB), registered now, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GODDARD DICK SIM BENSEN B-8M
- Registry model: [Goddard Dick Sim BENSEN B-8M](https://openairdocs.org/model/goddard-dick-sim-bensen-b-8m) (registry code 05624KI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 65.7
- Engines: Rotax 532 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2020, 33.5 hours before
- Airport: AJO, Corona Muni, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Video recording device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; sport pilot; last flight review April 26, 2022; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 32 total, 2 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KAJO, 1 nm away
- METAR: KAJO 131956Z AUTO 27009G17KT 10SM CLR 36/15 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP119 T03610150

## 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 20220813008859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220813008859A), Aug 13, 2022: Goddard Dick Sim BENSEN B-8M, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. On 08/13/2022 N532KB departed Corona Airport (ajo) via runway 25 for practice in the traffic pattern. The pilot was on his first approach to land when he…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105731. 6.2 MB in all.

- Materials laboratory report 23-002 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 837 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14971731&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2023-002-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16495395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Aircraft logbook entries (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16495647&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N532KB%20Aircraft%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 364 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16496113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16508960&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.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.

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