Summary
On May 31, 1995, a Knoll-bensen B-80 (N12JK) was involved in an incident near Germansville, PA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The private pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
On May 31, 1995, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Knoll-Bensen B-80 gyroplane, N12JK, operated by the registered owner/builder, sustained substantial damage when it touched down abruptly at the Flying "M" Aerodrome, in Germansville, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91, originated from Germansville, Pennsylvania, about 1030.
The pilot reported that he had planned to practice takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. He stated that he completed one takeoff successfully, but during landing "...the flare-out was to high...
This incident is documented in NTSB report BFO95LA056. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N12JK.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the private pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 31, 1995, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Knoll-Bensen B-80 gyroplane, N12JK, operated by the registered owner/builder, sustained substantial damage when it touched down abruptly at the Flying "M" Aerodrome, in Germansville, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91, originated from Germansville, Pennsylvania, about 1030.
The pilot reported that he had planned to practice takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. He stated that he completed one takeoff successfully, but during landing "...the flare-out was to high... ." The pilot reported that the gyroplane touched down hard resulting in the main rotor striking the tail and the ground. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and that the accident could have been prevented if he had judged the aircraft's altitude better during the flare.
According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that he had not flown the gyroplane for quite a while, and during the landing the gyroplane touched down hard and, "flipped on its side." The aircraft was examined after the accident at the accident site and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# BFO95LA056