Snobird 532 N6147N

Summary

On 24 April 1993 at about 13:12 local time, a Snobird 532 registered N6147N, operated by Fowler, Stephen R., was involved in an accident near Early, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 1993 at 13:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Early, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Ground Loop (NONE)

Coordinates

31.7397, -98.9399

Aircraft

Snobird 532

Registration

N6147N

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Fowler, Stephen R.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW93FA138

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT PORPOISE. A FACTOR WAS THE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED TRIM SPRING

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A STUDENT PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS HOMEBUILT GYROPLANE ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT. DUE TO THE LOW CEILINGS AND HIGH WINDS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RESTRICT HIS MORNING TRAINING SESSION TO GROUND RUNS AND SHORT HOPS OVER THE RUNWAY. DURING THE FIFTH LOW FLIGHT, THE GYROPLANE WAS OBSERVED HIGHER OVER THE GROUND THAN ON ANY OF HIS PREVIOUS RUNS, AND AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, FULL POWER WAS HEARD BEING APPLIED AND A STEEP CLIMB ESTABLISHED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER TURNING DOWNWIND, WHILE STILL OPERATING AT FULL TAKEOFF POWER, A PROGRESSIVE PORPOISING LIKE OSCILLATION DEVELOPED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE GYROPLANE WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING RAPIDLY TUMBLING END OVER END UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND A TREE LINE. THE TRIM SPRING USED TO PROVIDE SENSITIVITY AND STABILITY TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM WAS FOUND OUT OF ADJUSTMENT

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.