Watts 532 ELITE N5352

Summary

On 27 July 1987 at about 23:35 local time, a Watts 532 ELITE registered N5352, operated by John L. Watts, SR., was involved in an accident near Davenport, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

27 July 1987 at 23:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Davenport, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Davenport (DVN)

Coordinates

41.5501, -90.6000

Aircraft

Watts 532 ELITE

Registration

N5352

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

John L. Watts, SR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC87FA148

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES LOCATED 1/4 MI NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, OBSERVED THE GYROCOPTER DEPARTING THE DAVENPORT, IA AIRPORT AND TURNING TO THE SOUTHWEST. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MOVING IN AN UP AND DOWN MOTION PRIOR TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE PARTS OF THE GYROCOPTER FLYING OFF. THE GYROCOPTER THEN FELL VERTICALLY INTO A CORNFIELD. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RUDDER WAS STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WHICH SEPARATED FROM ITS MOUNTING. A NEARBY WEATHER REPORTING STATION REPORTED A WIND CHANGE OF NEARLY 80 DEGREES AND WIND GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS DURING THE FLIGHT. LOCAL OPERATORS OF THE SAME TYPE OF GYROCOPTER INDICATED THE 'FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE INFLIGHT AND OVERCONTROL IS POSSIBLE WHEN IN TURBULENT WIND CONDITIONS.' NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES WERE FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.