Robert Snyder AUTOGYRO CALIDUS N221YT

Summary

On 5 March 2018 at about 14:35 local time, a Robert Snyder AUTOGYRO CALIDUS registered N221YT was involved in an accident near Beaufort, South Carolina, 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

5 March 2018 at 14:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Beaufort, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Beaufort County Airport (ARW)

Coordinates

32.4122, -80.6344

Aircraft

Robert Snyder AUTOGYRO CALIDUS

Registration

N221YT

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beaufort → Beaufort

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18LA095

1 person died.

The gyroplane pilot's failure to maintain rotor speed and aircraft control as he was attempting to return to the runway during a low-altitude simulated engine-out maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After performing a normal takeoff, the private pilot of the gyroplane transmitted over the radio that he was going to conduct a simulated engine-out maneuver and return to the opposite runway. Witnesses saw the gyroplane flying toward the runway erratically and at low altitude over a field. The gyroplane's nose pitched up, and the gyroplane rolled inverted before impacting a grass area to the side of the runway. One witness, who was also a pilot, estimated that the gyroplane climbed to 300 to 500 ft above ground level before performing the maneuver and speculated that it may not have been enough altitude to complete the maneuver. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions and the two main rotor blades did not exhibit significant rotational damage. It is likely that, as the pilot was maneuvering aggressively at low altitude with the engine power at idle, he allowed the main rotor speed to decay, which resulted in a subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.