AutoGyro Cavalon Sustains Substantial Damage in Palo Alto Incident

An AutoGyro Cavalon gyroplane, registration N40CT, sustained substantial damage during a flight in Palo Alto, California, on May 13. According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Aviation Safety Network, no fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident.

Investigation Underway

The aircraft was operated by a private owner on a noncommercial flight at the time of the incident. The NTSB has assigned event ID 20260518203008 to the occurrence, but officials have not released a preliminary report detailing the phase of flight or the specific cause of the accident.

Safety Context

The AutoGyro Cavalon is a two-seat gyroplane produced by Germany's AutoGyro GmbH. While this specific incident resulted in no injuries, the aircraft type has been the subject of safety discussions within the general aviation community regarding pilot proficiency and training. Other recent Cavalon events include a nonfatal forced landing in Australia on Jan. 4 following a partial loss of engine power.