Luciano Edison HA-2 SPORTSTER N764EL

Summary

On 3 April 2010 at about 21:30 local time, a Luciano Edison HA-2 SPORTSTER registered N764EL, operated by Luciano Cruz Edison A, was involved in an accident near Humacao, 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.

Date

3 April 2010 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Humacao, United States

Nearest airport

Humacao Airport (X63)

Coordinates

18.1336, -66.8056

Aircraft

Luciano Edison HA-2 SPORTSTER

Registration

N764EL

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Luciano Cruz Edison A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Humacao → Humacao

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA207

1 person died.

The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the gyrocraft while maneuvering after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s operation of the gyrocraft with an inoperative right magneto.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported hearing the engine operate at a reduced power setting as the flight was taking off, remaining constant from the point of takeoff to the moment of impact. The gyrocraft was observed climbing to approximately 100 feet and banking hard to the left before it began to descend. A witness noted that the gyrocraft was in a 45-degree nose-low attitude, which he perceived was the pilot's attempt to gain airspeed. Postaccident inspection of the engine revealed that the right magneto was inoperative and several out-of-specification discrepancies were noted with both magnetos, consistent with a lack of maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.