ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 357583
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| Date: | Thursday 4 April 1996 |
| Time: | 13:15 LT |
| Type: |  Bensen B8 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | NONE |
| MSN: | |
| Total airframe hrs: | 172 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 532 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Carthage, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The rotor blades of an unregistered gyroplane struck a bystander that was taking pictures of the gyroplane during the takeoff roll. According to the noncertificated pilot, the bystander had noticed his gyroplane, and expressed a great deal of interest, having worked on helicopters in the past. The pilot agreed to demonstrate the gyroplane and to perform a flight around his property to allow him to take pictures of it in flight. Before initiating a takeoff roll from his property, the pilot motioned to the bystander to move further to the right of the strip; the bystander acknowledged the signal and moved back. The pilot stated that he noticed that the bystander moved the camera up to his face and proceeded to take pictures as the gyroplane accelerated. As the gyroplane rolled past the bystander, the main rotor blade impacted the bystander's head, and the pilot felt a slight bump on the stick. The pilot then aborted the takeoff. The pilot stated that the bystander may have possibly lost perspective of the actual distance to the gyroplane as he viewed it through the camera's view finder.
Probable Cause: the pilot's inadequate coordination with the spectator, concerning the spectator's need to remain clear of the takeoff area, and the spectator's failure to remain clear of the takeoff area. A factor relating to the accident was: the spectator's distorted perception of distance, while viewing the aircraft through a camera view finder.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW96LA161
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Mar-2024 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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