- Date
- October 7, 2024, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chico, CA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N726CARotorsport Cavalon
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20241007015009A
- Case key
- 195278
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent descent and subsequent collision with trees.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot of the gyroplane reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude over his property, he pulled back on the control stick to slow down and observe the area. He then noticed that he inadvertently allowed the airspeed to decay to zero, and the gyroplane was descending. In an attempt to recover, he applied full engine power and pitched forward to reestablish airspeed. However, the gyroplane was at too low of an altitude to recover from the descent. The gyroplane struck a tree and fell to the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N726CA
- Reported as
- Rotorsport Cavalon (UNDESIGNATED SERIES)
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Serial number
- RSUK-V00426
- Built
- 2018
- Airframe hours
- 207
- Engine
- Rotax 915, 141 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Other
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 12, 2024 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- SQL · San Carlos, CA
- Destination
- CIC · Chico, CA
- Airport
- KCIC · Chico Regional Airport
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Heads up display
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
- 55
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 24, 2024
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 120.9 total · 45.4 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 100 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- KCIC, 4 nm away
- METAR
- KCIC 072252Z 23010KT 10SM FEW065 38/03 A2982
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 31.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.