Lynn Perry CAVALON N442AG

Summary

On 26 March 2018 at about 14:15 local time, a Lynn Perry CAVALON registered N442AG was involved in an accident near Haverhill, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 March 2018 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Haverhill, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Dean Memorial (5B9)

Coordinates

44.0800, -72.0078

Aircraft

Lynn Perry CAVALON

Registration

N442AG

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

Haverhill → Haverhill

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA179

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a rejected takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the binding of the control stick, for an undetermined reason, which precipitated the rejected takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the gyroplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, after the front landing gear became light, he attempted to push the control stick forward, but was unable. He then used both hands in an attempt to push the stick forward. He realized he could not move the control stick forward and therefore could not control the gyroplane. He rejected the takeoff by reducing power, the gyroplane veered to the left, and the rotor struck the runway. Subsequently, the gyroplane rolled onto its left side, skidded down the runway, exited the left side of the runway, and impacted a snowbank. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor system and fuselage. The pilot reported that he removed the rotor blade by removing the center pivoting bolt, and in doing so, the rotor head moved forward and freed the stick. The Federal Aviation Administration sent two inspectors to examine the gyroplane. During the visit, the rotor head moved freely in all directions with no evidence of binding or restriction, and no discrepancies were noted with the torque tube or cabling in the keel tube. The brake and trim controls were also moved in various sequences and control positions, but there were no discrepancies found. The FAA inspector added that, with an inadvertent and or unnoticed activation of full aft trim prior to beginning the takeoff roll, there could be enough resistance created to generate the conditions the pilot experienced.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.