Pilot Debrief

AUTOGYRO GMBH CALIDUS near Crozet, VA — 2015-02-04

Final reportERA15CA121
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Date
2015-02-04
Location
Crozet, VA, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
AUTOGYRO GMBH CALIDUS
Registration
N595X
Category
Gyroplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's improper control inputs which resulted in a loss of control and rollover during the takeoff roll.

NTSB narrative

After departing from the airport where the pilot kept the gyroplane, he flew to his family farm and landed without incident on a 1,500-foot-long grass polo field. Later on, during an attempted takeoff from the same field, when the gyroplane was traveling at 25 to 30 knots and was about 150 feet into the takeoff roll, the gyroplane rose to a balanced position on its main wheels, but then began to bounce up and down violently. The pilot then lost control of the gyroplane and it rolled over on its left side about 300 feet into the takeoff roll. The pilot advised that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the gyroplane. He further advised that it was "pilot error" and that he had "over advanced" the blades by pushing the control stick too far forward and that the blades were not yet at speed (too low a rotor rpm) when he did it. The pilot was not injured, but the gyroplane incurred damage to the rotor blades, the pusher propeller, the horizontal stabilizer, the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, the engine cowling, and the wheel pants.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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