Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Quincy, Florida 32424
Thursday, January 18, 1996 14:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The CFI stated that during takeoff the gyroplane's engine ran rough. He returned to the airport, checked the plugs, and cleaned the fuel filter of contaminant that was found. On the second takeoff the engine ran fine. About 30 minutes into the flight the engine began to lose power. The pilot made a downwind precautionary landing to a field. During the landing the nose gear buckled, and the main rotor blades, propeller, and airframe were damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, and the pilot-in-command's improper decision to land with a tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/18/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City QUINCY
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32424
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1459 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID TLH
Elevation of weather observation facility 81
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 122
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 6 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 836
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number MIA96LA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROTOR FLIGHT DYNAMICS
Aircraft Model DOMINATOR
Aircraft Series Identifier DOMINATOR
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 100
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARMON MCKENZIE JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1 BOX 68C
Aircraft Owner City HOSFORD
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32334
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 2J9
Departure City
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OJ9
Destination City BLOUNTSTOWN
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --