Rotorsport Uk MTOSPORT 2017 N975CD

Summary

On 13 October 2023 at about 17:00 local time, a Rotorsport Uk MTOSPORT 2017 registered N975CD was involved in an accident near Easton, Maryland, 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

13 October 2023 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Easton, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Easton/Newnam Fld (ESN)

Coordinates

38.8042, -76.0690

Aircraft

Rotorsport Uk MTOSPORT 2017

Registration

N975CD

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2023

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Fredericksburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA008

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the gyroplane on takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just purchased the new gyroplane. He completed two delivery flights with a flight instructor, receiving about 1 hour of dual instruction. The pilot said the gyroplane flew beautifully, and he decided to fly home that day. Before takeoff, the pilot checked the flight controls, which functioned normally. There were no birds in the area and the wind was calm. On takeoff, when the gyroplane was about 5 ft above the runway, it made an uncommanded 30° yaw to the right. The pilot said he tried to correct with full left rudder pedal, but there was no response. The pilot said his only option was to reject the takeoff. He reduced power, pushed the nose forward, then pulled the controls back in an attempt to make a soft landing. The pilot stated that the main rotor blades flapped, and the gyroplane rolled before it “dropped” vertically about 15–20 ft to the ground. After the gyroplane came to a stop, the pilot turned off the engine. The pilot did not know why the gyroplane yawed but recalled that the control stick stayed in his hand, and he felt no feedback in the rudder pedals. A postaccident examination of the gyroplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.