Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM IN THE GYROCOPTER ON APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN GYROCOPTER FLYING.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 6, 1994, about 1700 eastern standard time, N7014B, a homebuilt GIP-1, gyrocopter crashed on landing attempt at Flagler County Airport, Bunnell, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The gyrocopter was substantially damaged and the pilot received fatal injuries. The local flight originated from the same airport about 10 minutes earlier.
The instructor pilot had given flight instruction to the airplane-rated pilot in the gyrocopter, and had cleared the pilot for three solo flights around the traffic pattern. The pilot executed one traffic pattern, and was observed to be fast on the approach. The gyrocopter was observed to porpoise and crash as the rotor coned and the rpm decayed.
Examination of the engine, airframe and control system by an FAA inspector revealed no preexisting failures. A postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by Dr. Terrence Steiner who reported the cause of death to be multiple traumatic injuries. Toxicological examination of specimens from the pilot were negative for alcohol, basic and acetic drugs.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA94LA086