Holsclaw BARNETT J4B N3919C

Summary

On 28 July 2001 at about 16:20 local time, a Holsclaw BARNETT J4B registered N3919C was involved in an accident near Titusville, Pennsylvania, 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

28 July 2001 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Titusville, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Titusville Airport (6G1)

Coordinates

41.6061, -79.7419

Aircraft

Holsclaw BARNETT J4B

Registration

N3919C

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Titusville → Titusville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC01LA190

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control while maneuvering. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in type of gyroplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot bought a homebuilt gyroplane. He returned it to his home and assembled it for flight. At the completion of his first test flight, he reported that it flew nose heavy. Without correcting the nose heavy situation, he then departed on a longer flight, and returned to the departure airport after about an hour's absence. Witnesses saw the gyrocopter make a pass down the runway at reduced power. During the pass, the nose dropped, the pilot added power, and the nose returned to the horizon. The pilot then initiated a steep right turn. During the turn, the nose dropped and the gyrocopter impacted the ground. Witnesses reported that the pilot had been told to "hang" the gyroplane prior to flight to check for proper position of the mast plate. However, the pilot reported that he had not completed the task. No maintenance records were available for review. The pilot did not have a current medical, and his student pilot certificate had expired. He was taking medication used to treat depression, and he was diabetic. The designer of the gyroplane reported that flight with a nose heavy gyroplane would reduce the amount of nose up control available to the pilot. In addition, loss of airspeed in maneuvering, or a power reduction/loss could also induce a nose down attitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.