Pilot Debrief

RAYMOND Z BROWN CONDOR near Centralia, IL — 2016-02-01

Final reportCEN16LA096
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Date
2016-02-01
Location
Centralia, IL, USA
Airport
ENL
Aircraft
RAYMOND Z BROWN CONDOR
Registration
N41852
Category
Gyroplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The failure of the prerotator belt, which impeded the engine's timing belt and resulted in a loss of engine power at low altitude.

NTSB narrative

A witness observed the sport pilot departing in his experimental, amateur-built gyroplane when, about 300 ft above ground level, the gyroplane turned right and the rotor blades began to slow. The gyroplane then made a sharp left turn, descended, and abruptly pitched up before impacting a field. A postaccident examination of the gyroplane found that the belt driving the prerotator had broken and had become entangled in the engine timing belt, which would have resulted in a loss of engine power. No other anomalies were detected with the airframe and engine. An autopsy did not reveal any medical concerns with the pilot.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after engine power loss was observed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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