Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION N534EA

Summary

On 7 May 2018 at about 15:45 local time, a Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION registered N534EA was involved in an accident near Sebring, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 May 2018 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebring, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sebring Rgnl (SEF)

Coordinates

27.4486, -81.3431

Aircraft

Christopher Lord ELA 07 SCORPION

Registration

N534EA

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

Sebring → Sebring

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18TA144

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to slow the gyroplane and maintain control while exiting the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the experimental, amateur-built gyroplane. He landed on the runway and began a left turn to the taxiway. A witness stated that the rotor blades had a "high speed" of rotation after the gyroplane landed and that a main rotor blade struck the runway. Subsequently, the gyroplane spun and rolled onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor, and tail section. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. He recommended that the accident might have been prevented by "slow[ing] down while making turns."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.