Rotorsport Uk MTOSPORT 2017 N615MW

Summary

On 11 August 2020 at about 13:15 local time, a Rotorsport Uk MTOSPORT 2017 registered N615MW was involved in an accident near Springfield, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were 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

11 August 2020 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Springfield Robertson County (M91)

Coordinates

36.5367, -86.9211

Aircraft

Rotorsport Uk MTOSPORT 2017

Registration

N615MW

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2019

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Nashville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20LA284

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff when the gyroplane’s actual performance failed to match that predicted in his performance planning. Contributing to the accident was the gyrocopter’s insufficient performance for reasons that could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot conducted an intersection takeoff with the gyroplane loaded near its maximum gross weight. The pilot stated he lifted off at 45 knots and accelerated "in ground effect" in an attempt to reach his planned climb speed of 55 knots, but the gyroplane would not accelerate past 48 knots. Data from an onboard GPS navigation device revealed that, in calm winds, the gyroplane reached a maximum groundspeed of 40 knots. Although the gyrocopter was only about 10 ft above the ground (agl) where, based on the pilot’s performance planning, it should have been 50 ft agl, and sufficient runway and turf overrun were available to abort the takeoff, the pilot chose to continue the takeoff. As the gyroplane approached the airport boundary, it was neither climbing nor accelerating. Due to obstacles beyond the airport’s boundary, the pilot performed a forced landing between the airport boundary fence and the road. The gyroplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Despite the pilot having completed detailed weight and balance and performance-planning calculations, the pilot continued the takeoff when the gyroplane failed to achieve its predicted performance by large margins. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the wreckage and a postaccident engine run revealed no anomalies with the gyrocopter. The reason the gyrocopter did not perform as expected could not be determined based on available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.