DENZIL VELARDE MTO SPORT near Tavernier, FL — 2024-03-24

Final reportERA24LA153

Date: 2024-03-24
Location: Tavernier, FL, USA
Airport: FA81
Aircraft: DENZIL VELARDE MTO SPORT
Registration: N291AG
Category: Gyroplane
Highest injury: Minor
Fatalities: 0
Phase of flight: Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The gyroplane’s encounter with a tailwind during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and subsequent forced landing.

NTSB narrative

The gyroplane was unable to maintain sufficient airspeed and altitude after takeoff, so the pilot attempted to “land like a helicopter” on a side road. While maneuvering to land, the wind blew the gyroplane backward and the tail section impacted a concrete fence. The gyroplane came to rest on its side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported the winds were variable at 10 knots. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal evidence of any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Although the calculated relative humidity showed the possibility of carburetor icing at low power setting, the pilot had only operated the gyroplane for about six minutes before taking off, which likely was not a sufficient amount of time for carburetor icing to form. It is likely that shifting winds resulted in a tailwind during the takeoff, and the gyroplane did not have sufficient airspeed at liftoff to maintain flight.