Stiles CHOCTAW N97CS
22 January 2002 · Danville, Kentucky, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 22 January 2002 at about 19:45 local time, a Stiles CHOCTAW registered N97CS was involved in an accident near Danville, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 19:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Danville, Kentucky, United States
- Nearest airport
- Stuart Powell Field (DVK)
- Coordinates
- 37.6394, -84.7692
- Aircraft
- Stiles CHOCTAW
- Registration
- N97CS
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Danville → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC02LA049
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Shortly after takeoff, a steady stream of dark gray smoke was seen emanating from the homebuilt gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then turned left, climbed, and appeared to be returning to the airport. However, it impacted a field about 1 mile south of the airport. An FAA inspector examined the engine. When he attempted to rotate the crankshaft by hand, a metal binding was heard. Further examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod bearing had seized in the number one cylinder. The non-certificated engine had been removed from an automobile, and installed on the gyrocopter by the pilot.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 2002 | Cessna 172K | Prestonsburg, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2002 | Boeing Stearman A75N1 | Bardstown, Kentucky, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Nov 2002 | Bell 206L1 | Albany, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 May 2002 | Bombardier CL600-2B19 | Covington, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 2002 | Hughes 369D | Jeffersontown, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Aug 2002 | Gates Learjet 25C | Lexington, Kentucky, United States | American Air Network, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |