N263MP

On June 2, 1994, at an undetermined time, a Pecchio Marchetti 263MP, N263MP, an experimental gyrocopter, was destroyed after colliding with trees and the terrain, near East Moriches, New York. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries. The gyrocopter departed East Moriches, about 1245 eastern daylight time, for the local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight conducted under CFR 14 Part 91.

Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the wreckage, and in a report, stated:

...The aircraft was inspected at the crash site on June 2, 1994, and although the aircraft was destroyed, no evidence of a mechanical failure could be detected at that time. The aircraft maintenance log book was examined with no discrepancies noted....

The President of the Popular Rotorcraft Association submitted a report, in which he stated:

...We do know that Martin [the pilot] stated...that the rotorblades on his machine became "twitchy" and made the controls extremely sensitive when the gyro reached 55 MPH, and therefore he did not exceed 50 MPH when flying. Martin also stated to friends...that he had a "hairy vibration" at times and could not figure out the source of the vibration....

In his report, he continued:

...In talking to people, we found that Martin said he had a severe vibration when he hit 55 MPH, so he set his Vne [never exceed velocity] not to exceed 50 MPH. He described it as a scary vibration that shook the aircraft and was trying to determine what it was. We do know that the day of the accident was the windiest day he was up, with the nearest reported winds gusting to 20 MPH. It got even windier that afternoon on Eastern Long Island, but we believe that Martin had already crashed....An eye witness who was a farm worker about a mile away reported that he saw Martin flying high...when he went into a left turn and spiraled to the ground, out of sight to the witness....