N29HT – HUNT SPARROWHAWK – 2011-10-15 NTSB Accident Report

On October 15, 2011, a Hunt SPARROWHAWK (N29HT) was involved in an accident near Blair, NE. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot/builder’s inadequate installation of a nosewheel steering component, which resulted in a shimmy and a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.

The pilot/builder was planning a short flight above the runway for the purpose of testing the newly built gyrocopter. During the takeoff roll, the nose wheel experienced a shimmy and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The gyrocopter rolled onto its left side and exited the side of the runway before coming to rest in the grass. During the rollover, the main rotor mast was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the gyrocopter revealed a loose bolt in the nose gear steering linkage which allowed the nose wheel to shimmy.

This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN12CA029. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N29HT.