Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Okeechobee, Florida 34972
Saturday, August 7, 1993 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FLYING NORTHBOUND AT 200 TO 300 FEET, AT 50 MPH WITH A 25 TO 30 KNOT SOUTHEASTERLY WIND. THIS WAS 5 TO 10 KNOTS SLOWER THAN HIS NORMAL CRUISE SPEED. HE MADE A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST WHICH PLACED THE GYROCOPTER DOWNWIND. AS HE COMPLETED THE TURN THE GYROCOPTER BEGAN TO DESCEND RAPIDLY. BEFORE RECOVERY COULD BE MADE THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED A PALM TREE AND THE GYROCOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE GYROCOPTER THEN ROLLED ON TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST. ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING THE TURN WHICH RESULTED IN THE RAPID DESCENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ROTOR SPEED WHILE REVERSING DIRECTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City OKEECHOBEE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34972
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1956 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 52
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 922
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 9 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44162
NTSB Number MIA93LA172
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 LOVE, SANFORD W.
Aircraft Model DOMINATOR
Aircraft Series Identifier DOMINATOR
Aircraft Serial Number 427427
Certified Max Gross Weight 640
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 11
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOVE, SANFORD W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1272 SE 1ST WAY
Aircraft Owner City DEERFIELD BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33441
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LOVE, SANFORD W.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1272 SE 1ST WAY
Operator City DEERFIELD BEACH
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33441
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 1900
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Descent
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --