Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orlando, Florida 32809
Saturday, June 18, 1988 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE GYROPLANE WAS ON A LOCAL DEMONSTRATION FLT. THE PASSENGER (PAX) STATED THE PLT TOOK OFF, CLIMBED TO APRX 500 FT AGL,DESCENDED TO APRX 20 FT AGL & MANEUVERED NEAR OBSERVERS. HE SAID THE PLT THEN ADDED POWER & INITIATED A 30 DEG CLIMB ATTITUDE. THE PAX REMEMBERED EXPERIENCING A NEGATIVE 'G' SENSATION & SAID THE PLT WAS MOVING THE STICK AROUND, TRYING TO FIND OUT 'WHERE THEY WERE.' THE GYROPLANE THEN DESCENDED & STRUCK THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE POWERPLANT, AIRFRAME OR FLT CONTROLS. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED ROTORCRAFT CATEGORY & GYROPLANE CLASS RATING. HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE REQUIRED HIM TO WEAR CORRECTING LENSES WHILE EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF HIS AIRMAN CERTIFICATE. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE PLT WAS NOT WEARING GLASSES. THE GYROPLANE HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED AN AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE BY THE FAA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ORLANDO
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32809
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 268
Weather Observation Facility ID MCO
Elevation of weather observation facility 96
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1133
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37086
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N33KA
NTSB Number MIA88FA197
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name KENNEDY
Aircraft Model SKYCYCLE 2
Aircraft Series Identifier SKYCYCLE 2
Aircraft Serial Number 003
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
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 No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENNEDY AIRCRAFT CO., INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2405 N COOLIDGE ST
Aircraft Owner City ORLANDO
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32804
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KENNEDY, PAUL E
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2405 N. COOLIDGE AVE.
Operator City ORLANDO
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32804
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 1610
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --