Rotonda International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Placida, Florida 33946
Sunday, July 5, 1998 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-certificated pilot stated he was taxiing too fast downwind, encountered a gust of wind and lost control of the aircraft resulting in a collision with the ground. The gyrocopter subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The collision with the ground resulted in bending of the main rotor blades, rear propeller blades broken off and all structural components of the gyroplane bent and twisted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Excessive taxi speed. A related factor was the wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PLACIDA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33946
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ROTONDA INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X54
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 349
Weather Observation Facility ID TPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 68
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 13000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 890
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2289V
NTSB Number ATL98LA097
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 Benson
Aircraft Model B-8M
Aircraft Series Identifier B-8M
Aircraft Serial Number 01
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Unknown
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 190
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM L. OLMSTED
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2
Aircraft Owner City CORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13045
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KEVIN ORF
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 9913 GULFSTREAM BLV.
Operator City ENGLEWOOD
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 34223
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 4200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --