N402ED

On July 17, 2015, about 1500 central daylight time, a Celier Aviation Xenon RST, gyroplane, N402ED, aborted the takeoff after hearing a grinding noise coming from the main rotors, veered off the runway to the left, and rolled onto its left side at the Livingston Municipal Airport (00R), Livingston, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the gyroplane, sustained minor injuries. The gyroplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, as a visual flight rules, personal cross-country flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Jennings Airport (3R7), Jennings, Louisiana at 1100 central daylight time.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 21, 2015, the pilot stated that during the takeoff roll about 1 foot above ground he heard a grinding noise originating from the main rotor area directly above him. The pilot reduced the power to idle to abort the takeoff; the gyroplane drifted to the left side of the runway, rolled onto its left side impacting the ground.

The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and right tail tube.

Examination of the gyroplane revealed that the main rotor blades were bent upward about 35 degrees on the ends and the outer casing of the right tail tube was damaged. Flight control continuity was established throughout the gyroplane and no anomalies were noted. The engine was examined, started and run on the airframe by the NTSB IIC, no anomalies were noted.

The main rotor head was examined by the IIC, the top of the pre-rotation plate, a large diameter circular metal plate with a gear-toothed outer edge used to pre-rotate the main rotor blades for takeoff, displayed evidence of scoring about one inch in diameter around the circumference the top of the plate. The upper housing assembly, which houses the pre-rotation drive components, was examined and showed evidence of scoring on the upper portion of the opening that the pre-rotation plate is driven through. The top of the upper housing assembly displayed evidence of scorning about 180 degrees in a half circle shape on the top of the assembly.