Pilot Debrief

CELIER AVIATION XENON RST near Livingston, TX — 2015-07-17

Final reportGAA15LA191
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Date
2015-07-17
Location
Livingston, TX, USA
Airport
00R
Aircraft
CELIER AVIATION XENON RST
Registration
N402ED
Category
Gyroplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control after aborting the takeoff due to a grinding noise coming from the main rotor area, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff and as the gyroplane was about 1 ft above the 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 off the left side of the runway and rolled onto its left side. During postaccident examination of the gyroplane, flight control continuity was established, and no anomalies were noted. An examination of the main rotor head revealed that the top of the prerotation plate, which is a large-diameter, circular metal plate with a gear-toothed outer edge used to prerotate the main rotor blades for takeoff, displayed evidence of preaccident circumferential scoring. An examination of the prerotation drive housing showed evidence of scoring on the upper portion of the opening through which the prerotation plate is driven. The top of the upper housing assembly also displayed evidence of scoring. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the prerotation housing became misaligned, which resulted in the grinding noise reported by the pilot. However, the misalignment of the prerotation housing would not have led to the loss of directional control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff earlier upon hearing grinding noise.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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