Hawley Richard A1B N5249H

Summary

On 13 April 2018 at about 00:00 local time, a Hawley Richard A1B registered N5249H was involved in an accident near Lincoln, California, 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

13 April 2018 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lincoln, California, United States

Nearest airport

Lincoln Rgnl/Karl Harder Field (LHM)

Coordinates

38.9142, -121.3531

Aircraft

Hawley Richard A1B

Registration

N5249H

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

1991

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln → Lincoln

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA213

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that this was his first flight in the accident gyroplane. He added that, during takeoff from runway 15, which was 6,001 ft long by 100 ft wide, he centered the gyroplane on the runway and increased engine rpm and rotor speed. Around 120 rotor rpm during the takeoff roll, he pulled back on the cyclic. Due to his injuries sustained in the accident, he does not recall what occurred afterward. The gyroplane came to rest on its right side on the right side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 260° at 7 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 330° at 5 knots. The gyrocopter was departing runway 15.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.