Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cowpens, South Carolina 29330
Wednesday, November 10, 1993 17:53 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON FINAL APPROACH, THE GYROPLANE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT FORCE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN TREES SHORT OF THE LANDING AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANK AND FUEL SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT STATED THAT THE TANKS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL SLOSHING AND THAT THIS MAY CAUSE FUEL STARVATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION WHICH RESULTED FROM UNPORTED FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK DUE TO INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE TANKS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1753
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City COWPENS
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29330
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 185
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID GSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 129
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2095
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 10 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10343
NTSB Number ATL94LA013
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 BOWERMASTER
Aircraft Model B-8M
Aircraft Series Identifier B-8M
Aircraft Serial Number BCB-232
Certified Max Gross Weight 500
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GALLMAN, LEONARD W. SR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 130 OAKSTONE ROAD, BOX 1308
Aircraft Owner City COWPENS
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29330
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
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 Approach
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 1900
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --