Spangenberg AR-1KC N65PC

Summary

On 20 February 2022 at about 19:45 local time, a Spangenberg AR-1KC registered N65PC was involved in an accident near Sarasota, Florida, 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

20 February 2022 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Sarasota, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sarasota/Bradenton Intl (SRQ)

Coordinates

27.3954, -82.5544

Aircraft

Spangenberg AR-1KC

Registration

N65PC

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

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA134

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper control input during an aborted takeoff procedure, which resulted in a main rotor blade contacting the vertical stabilizer, a loss of control, and subsequent runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll, she felt a “shudder” just before the gyrocopter became airborne. She immediately aborted the takeoff and reduced power with the aft cyclic still applied. The gyrocopter entered a steep nose-high attitude, and a main rotor blade struck the top of the vertical stabilizer. The gyrocopter departed the left side of the runway and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. Also, the nosewheel fractured and separated from the airframe. Postaccident examination of the flight controls and the fractured nosewheel revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.