Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing the gyroplane.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot flew three normal traffic patterns in the gyroplane. During the fourth landing the gyroplane “began to tip to the left” and the student pilot was unable to regain control. The gyroplane subsequently impacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the stabilizer, rudder, and main rotor. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.