Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the gyrocopter.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot stated that during initial takeoff, the aircraft climbed too fast, too early, and rolled to the right. He partially recovered prior to the aircraft colliding with the ground on the right side. A witness stated he observed the aircraft taking off on runway 6. About 1/3 of the way down the runway the aircraft rotated to a high angle of attack. The aircraft then yawed violently to the right. The pilot made a partial recovery but the aircraft again yawed to the right. The main rotor blades contacted the ground and the aircraft crashed. Post crash examination of the aircraft showed no evidence of malfunction. The aircraft was displaying FAA registration number N2059B at the time of the accident. FAA records indicate that the number was not currently assigned to an aircraft. The student pilot was not endorsed for solo flight.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 23, 2003, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an unregistered experimental gyroplane, crashed during takeoff at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The aircraft was destroyed and the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the occurrence. The student pilot stated that during initial takeoff the aircraft climbed too fast, too early, and rolled to the right. He partially recovered prior to the aircraft colliding with the ground on the right side. A witness stated he observed the aircraft taking off on runway 6. About 1/3 of the way down the runway the aircraft rotated to a high angle of attach. The aircraft then yawed violently to the right. The pilot made a partial recovery but the aircraft again yawed to the right. The main rotor blades contacted the ground and the aircraft crashed. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction of the aircraft structure, flight controls, rotor system, and engine. The aircraft was displaying FAA registration number N2059B at the time of the accident. FAA records indicate that the number was not currently assigned to an aircraft. Examination of the pilot's student pilot certificate by an FAA inspector showed that there was no endorsement by a flight instructor for solo flight in gyrocopters or any other aircraft on the certificate.