Pilot Debrief

JAL R DENNIS TRIXY PRINCESS near Midland, TX — 2015-08-10

Final reportCEN15LA350
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Date
2015-08-10
Location
Midland, TX, USA
Airport
MDD
Aircraft
JAL R DENNIS TRIXY PRINCESS
Registration
N743SS
Category
Gyroplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning during which he failed to account for the high-density altitude conditions and high gross weight, which degraded the gyroplane's climb performance and resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The sport pilot was operating the gyroplane near its maximum gross weight on a hot day. He taxied the gyroplane to a position north of the runway intersection and then performed a normal takeoff to the south. During the initial climb, the gyroplane began to lose airspeed. The pilot tried to regain airspeed by lowering the nose, but the airspeed continued to decrease. The pilot conducted a forced landing in a park, during which the gyroplane impacted the ground hard and rolled over on its right side. Examination of the gyroplane, the engine, and other systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The density altitude was calculated to be 5,850 ft, which would have degraded the gyroplane's climb rate by 75 percent. It is likely the pilot failed to adequately prepare for the flight and did not account for the effects of high density-altitude conditions, high gross weight, and reduced engine performance and that these factors degraded the gyroplane's climb performance such that the pilot was unable to maintain a positive climb rate.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have aborted takeoff due to high density altitude and weight concerns.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents11

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