Smith Dennis P MAGNI M24 N3PW
14 April 2018 · La Grange, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 14 April 2018 at about 18:00 local time, a Smith Dennis P MAGNI M24 registered N3PW was involved in an accident near La Grange, Texas, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- La Grange, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Fayette Rgnl Air Center (3T5)
- Coordinates
- 29.9017, -96.9478
- Aircraft
- Smith Dennis P MAGNI M24
- Registration
- N3PW
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Year built
- 2011
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- La Grange → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA18CA217
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control while taxiing onto the runway in gusting wind conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The gyroplane pilot reported that, during taxi to the runway for takeoff, he began the pre-rotation of the rotor. As he turned the gyroplane to the right onto the runway, a "strong gust" of wind tilted the gyroplane to the left, and the rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the gyroplane came to rest on its left side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 17 knots, gusting 26 knots. The gyroplane was departing runway 34.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 2018 | Piper PA 24 | New Braunfels, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 2018 | Kolb TWINSTAR | La Porte, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Wittman W10 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Apr 2018 | Bordiuk CHALLENGER II | Friona, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Oct 2018 | Beechcraft 55 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 2018 | Steen SKYBOLT | Lexington, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |