Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23 N40DG

Summary

On 20 January 2023 at about 20:15 local time, a Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23 registered N40DG was involved in an accident near Wauchula, 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 January 2023 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Wauchula, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Wauchula Muni (CHN)

Coordinates

27.5149, -81.8805

Aircraft

Degraw Richard R SUMMIT 23

Registration

N40DG

Category

Airplane

Year built

1992

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

ERA23LA114

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to make a crosswind landing and flared too high. He tried to recover by adding power, but it was too late, and the gyroplane landed hard on the left main landing gear. The gyroplane then bounced back and forth on both main landing gear before it rolled over and substantially damaged the main rotor blades and tail section. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.