Watts RAF 2000 GYROPLANE N6826Z
10 July 1997 · Conroe, Texas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 10 July 1997 at about 13:05 local time, a Watts RAF 2000 GYROPLANE registered N6826Z was involved in an accident near Conroe, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 13:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Conroe, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Montgomery County (CXO)
- Coordinates
- 30.3197, -95.4691
- Aircraft
- Watts RAF 2000 GYROPLANE
- Registration
- N6826Z
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW97LA278
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was his premature liftoff at low airspeed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
During takeoff on the pilot's third solo flight in the amateur built gyroplane, the gyroplane lifted off at low airspeed and yawed left. According to the pilot, he over corrected with right rudder and then left rudder, and the gyroplane nosed over and impacted the ground. Witnesses observed the gyroplane lift off, enter a steep right bank, and fall to the ground. The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with single and multi-engine land ratings, purchased the gyroplane in June 1997. He had received 15 hours of dual instruction and accumulated 1.8 hours of solo flight time in the gyroplane prior to the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1997 | Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9B | El Indio, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1997 | Cessna 182Q | Sugar Land, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1997 | Piper PA-28RT-201 | Whitewright, Texas, United States | Centerline Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1997 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Edna, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1997 | Cessna 152 | Gorman, Texas, United States | Spencer Jones | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1997 | Cessna 152 | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | Bridgeport Flight Training | Minor injuries | - |