Althouse RAF 2000 GTX N136DG

Summary

On 29 December 2007 at about 17:40 local time, a Althouse RAF 2000 GTX registered N136DG, operated by Dase Daniel A, was involved in an accident near Crowley, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 December 2007 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Crowley, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.5572, -97.4856

Aircraft

Althouse RAF 2000 GTX

Registration

N136DG

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Dase Daniel A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Worth → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08LA052

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of rotor blade rigidity.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur built gyrocopter was destroyed following a loss of rotor rpm and subsequent collision with terrain while maneuvering. A witness initially heard a "loud pop" and then observed the gyrocopter, approximately 50-feet above the ground, descending at a nose down angle of approximately 60-degrees. The gyrocopter impacted the ground approximately 100-feet from where the witness was located. The witness further reported that before the impact, the rotor blades appeared to be spinning "slowly." Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the rotor blades had struck the rudder twice. In addition, the rotor hub and rotor blades exhibited evidence of upward coning, consistent with the rotor blades having lost rigidity due to low rpm. Inspection of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.