Autogyro CALIDUS N991TC

Summary

On 4 May 2017 at about 19:15 local time, a Autogyro CALIDUS registered N991TC was involved in an accident near Stevensville, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 May 2017 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Stevensville, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Bay Bridge Airport (W29)

Coordinates

38.9767, -76.3314

Aircraft

Autogyro CALIDUS

Registration

N991TC

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stevensville → Stevensville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA258

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper takeoff procedure, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the gyrocopter reported that, during the takeoff roll, the rotor rpm was not increasing. He continued the takeoff and kept the gyrocopter on the ground to gain airspeed by not moving the stick to the full-aft position. He added that this was an "old existing airplane habit." Subsequently, during the takeoff, the gyrocopter developed a "rotor flap," and he lost directional control. The gyrocopter came to rest on its side to the left of the runway. The pilot added that not having the stick full aft prevented the rotor rpm from increasing and that the appropriate corrective action would have been to apply full-aft stick. The gyrocopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotors. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation. The gyrocopter's Flight Manual stated that, during the takeoff roll, the pilot must "bring the control stick fully aft."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.