Wildman ADVENTURER N567AW

Summary

On 23 October 2000 at about 23:50 local time, a Wildman ADVENTURER registered N567AW was involved in an accident near Yelm, Washington, 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

23 October 2000 at 23:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Yelm, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.8700, -122.5698

Aircraft

Wildman ADVENTURER

Registration

N567AW

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01LA008

1 person died.

A main rotor blade strike (impact) with both a pusher propeller blade and the rudder during an unknown phase of operation resulting in a loss of control and uncontrolled descent to terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness observed the gyroplane flying over his residence approximately 300 feet above ground. The witness reported that he waved to the pilot and 'the pilot waved back' and further reported that '...seconds later he [the witness] observed the rear of the gyroplane swaying back and forth and parts falling off the rear portion of the aircraft....' The gyroplane descended steeply to the ground and a post crash fire consumed much of the wreckage. Onsite examination by an FAA inspector determined that the wreckage was confined to a relatively small area with the exception of a diagonal section from the upper portion of the rudder, and one of the propeller's composite blades. These two items were located approximately 150 to 200 feet from the ground impact site. There was evidence of main rotor blade impact on both the separated propeller blade and rudder section. The inspector reported no control discontinuity at the accident site. The gyroplane did not have a horizontal stabilizer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.