Pilot Debrief

PARSONS Two Place #1 near Naguabo, PR — 2019-12-08

Final reportERA20LA051
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Date
2019-12-08
Location
Naguabo, PR, USA
Aircraft
PARSONS Two Place #1
Registration
N446PS
Category
Gyroplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A failure of the rudder attachment bolt, which resulted in the rudder’s subsequent inflight separation from the fuselage.

NTSB narrative

About 10 minutes after departure while in cruise flight at 55-60 mph, the pilot began to feel a vibration in the airframe and an "abnormal drag." He reduced the engine power, and about that time, he felt the propeller sever the rudder cables. As he looked back, he saw the rudder separate from the airframe and the gyroplane began to spin. The pilot shut down the engine to reduce the torque and attempted to maintain control as the gyroplane rapidly descended until it impacted the ground. The fuselage and main rotor blades were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. An examination of photographs of the fractured bolt section that attached the rudder to the fuselage revealed that the bolt likely fractured as a result of reverse bending fatigue.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked rudder condition and security before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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