Accident Air Command 532 Commander Elite UNREG,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 296311
 
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Date:Wednesday 1 January 2003
Time:14:30 LT
Type:Air Command 532 Commander Elite
Owner/operator:
Registration: UNREG
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Lansing, Illinois -   United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Chicago-Lansing Municipal Airport, IL (KIGQ)
Destination airport:Lansing, IL
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The un-registered gyrocopter was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The un-certified pilot received fatal injuries as a result of the crash. A witness to the accident stated that the gyrocopter made a westerly turn at an altitude of about 50 feet above ground level and passed in front of him at an altitude of 100 feet above ground level. The witness said within seconds he observed the gyrocopter in an abrupt climb followed by a quick descent, followed by an even faster climb. The witness said the gyrocopter then tumbled to the ground. The witness described the incident as a classic phugoid oscillation or "pilot induced oscillation." The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook refers to this as "an unintentional up-and-down oscillation of the gyroplane accompanied with alternating climbs and descents of the aircraft." The weather was reported as: Wind 020 degrees at 16 knots and gusts at 21 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition overcast at 2,100.

Probable Cause: The inadvertent pilot induced oscillation. Factor to the accident was the wind gusts.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CHI03LA048
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 2 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB CHI03LA048

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
13-Oct-2022 19:04 ASN Update Bot Added

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