Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS N247WR

Summary

On 23 March 2026 at about 18:39 local time, a Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS registered N247WR was involved in an accident near Fairfield, Utah, United States. One person was 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

23 March 2026 at 18:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairfield, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

West Desert Airpark (UT9)

Coordinates

40.2425, -112.0911

Aircraft

Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS

Registration

N247WR

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2024

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

WPR26LA137

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was nose wheel misalignment at touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while conducting touch-and-go landings in the traffic pattern, the gyrocopter touched down on the main landing gear. When the nose wheel contacted the runway, the gyrocopter swerved abruptly and began bouncing left-to-right, then rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and main rotor system. The pilot could not recall the airspeed when the nose wheel made contact. He further stated that the nose wheel may not have been aligned with the direction of travel at touchdown, which could result in an abrupt loss of control. The pilot added that the nose wheel steering was connected to the pedals and rudder system and that both systems were functioning normally prior to the accident. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.