ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 44162
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| Date: | Friday 31 March 2006 |
| Time: | 09:20 |
| Type: |  American Autogyro Sparrowhawk |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N41964 |
| MSN: | H20030008K |
| Total airframe hrs: | 175 hours |
| Engine model: | Subaru EJ22 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Ona, FL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Wauchula, FL (KCHN) |
| Venice, FL (KVNC) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During a pleasure flight while flying between 1,000 and 1,100 feet MSL a witness reported initially seeing a normal rate of descent. The descent rate became progressively steeper to the point it became "unsafe diving." The witness did not see any smoke trailing the gyrocopter, nor did he see any parts separate from the gyrocopter in-flight. The nose of the gyrocopter then tucked down, and the descent became vertical. The gyrocopter impacted into open terrain, and was destroyed by impact and a post crash fire. Postaccident examination of the flight controls of the gyrocopter revealed the aft pitch stop bolt was extended approximately 1/2 inch greater than the typical installation. The as-found position of the aft pitch stop bolt would result in only approximately 6 degrees positive main rotor tilt, while the correct setting would result in approximately 18 degree positive main rotor tilt. Fire and impact damage destroyed the cabin and primary structure, and also the engine assembly; therefore, no determination could be made as to whether there was any pre-impact failure or malfunction of the engine, engine accessories, or flight controls.
Probable Cause: The in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons during a normal descent, resulting in an uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20060419X00453&key=1
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 05-Dec-2017 09:03 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative, Plane category] |
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