National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Final Report

 

 

Location:

LITTLE ROCK, AR

Accident Number:

FTW92DPG01

Date & Time:

03/08/1992, 1030 CST

Registration:

N123ZT

Aircraft:

WIND RYDER

Aircraft Damage:

Destroyed

Defining Event:

 

Injuries:

1 Fatal

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

DURING FINAL APPROACH, AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, THE GYROCOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO SUDDENLY ROLL LEFT INTO A 90 DEGREE BANK AND IMPACT THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE GYROCOPTER REVEALED NO ANOMALIES IN THE SYSTEMS OR EVIDENCE OF FAILED OR MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENTS.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S).

Findings

 

Occurrence #1: LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT
Phase of Operation: APPROACH - VFR PATTERN - FINAL APPROACH

Findings
1. (C) REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED
----------

Occurrence #2: IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: APPROACH - VFR PATTERN - FINAL APPROACH

 

Factual Information

 

 

 

 

Pilot Information

Certificate:

Flight Instructor; Commercial

Age:

63, Male

Airplane Rating(s):

None

Seat Occupied:

Center

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Gyroplane

Restraint Used:

Seatbelt

Instrument Rating(s):

None

Second Pilot Present:

No

Instructor Rating(s):

Gyroplane

Toxicology Performed:

Yes

Medical Certification:

Class 2 Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim.

Last FAA Medical Exam:

09/10/1992

Occupational Pilot:

 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

 

Flight Time:

1653 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1599 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

 

 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

WIND RYDER

Registration:

N123ZT

Model/Series:

 

Aircraft Category:

Gyroplane

Year of Manufacture:

 

Amateur Built:

Yes

Airworthiness Certificate:

Experimental

Serial Number:

 

Landing Gear Type:

Tricycle

Seats:

1

Date/Type of Last Inspection:

02/27/1992, Annual

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

 

Time Since Last Inspection:

2 Hours

Engines:

1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time:

47 Hours

Engine Manufacturer:

ROTAX

ELT:

Not installed

Engine Model/Series:

532

Registered Owner:

WILMOT, DAVID H.

Rated Power:

64 hp

Operator:

CORDON, HARRY P.

Operating Certificate(s) Held:

None

 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual Conditions

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

LIT, 544 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

7 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

1000 CST

Direction from Accident Site:

200°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Scattered / 4000 ft agl

Visibility

7 Miles

Lowest Ceiling:

Broken / 25000 ft agl

Visibility (RVR):

0 ft

Wind Speed/Gusts:

10 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:

/

Wind Direction:

190°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:

/

Altimeter Setting:

30 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

19°C / 13°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

 

Departure Point:

 

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

 

Type of Clearance:

None

Departure Time:

1015 CST

Type of Airspace:

Class G

 

Airport Information

Airport:

N. LITTLE ROCK (1M1)

Runway Surface Type:

Asphalt

Airport Elevation:

544 ft

Runway Surface Condition:

Dry

Runway Used:

17

IFR Approach:

None

Runway Length/Width:

3009 ft / 75 ft

VFR Approach/Landing:

None

 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

1 Fatal

Aircraft Damage:

Destroyed

Passenger Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Fire:

On-Ground

Ground Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Explosion:

On-Ground

Total Injuries:

1 Fatal

Latitude, Longitude:

 

 


 


Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

JEFFERY    K LASHBROOK

Report Date:

08/25/1993

Additional Participating Persons:

RON   HERRON; N. LITTLE ROCK, AR

Publish Date:

 

Investigation Docket:

NTSB accident and incident dockets serve as permanent archival information for the NTSB’s investigations. Dockets released prior to June 1, 2009 are publicly available from the NTSB’s Record Management Division at pubinq@ntsb.gov, or at 800-877-6799. Dockets released after this date are available at http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/.