Rotary RAF2000 UNREG

Summary

On 7 August 2021 at about 16:15 local time, a Rotary RAF2000 registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Anahuac, Texas, 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

7 August 2021 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Anahuac, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Chambers County (T00)

Coordinates

29.7633, -94.6608

Aircraft

Rotary RAF2000

Registration

UNREG

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA363

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s incorrect trim system installation, which resulted in a loss of gyroplane control and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just installed a new trim system in the gyroplane and intended to complete a maintenance test flight. During the test flight, the pilot tried to adjust the trim, but nothing happened. The pilot actuated the trim switch again, and the gyroplane pitched up violently. The pilot attempted to override the trim switch but was unable to do so, and the gyroplane rapidly descended from 50 ft to ground impact. The pilot reported after the accident that a trim limit switch was not installed and that the trim system maintenance was probably done incorrectly. Thus, given the available evidence for this investigation, the pilot’s incorrect trim system maintenance likely caused the malfunction during flight and led to the pilot’s loss of gyroplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.