Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eldon, Missouri 65026
Saturday, May 13, 1989 17:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE GYROCOPTER DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE ROTOR SYSTEM, RUDDER ASSEMBLY, AND PROPELLER MADE CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT HELD NO AIRMEN OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. FAA RECORDS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, REFLECT THAT THE GYROCOPTER WAS SOLD IN 1980 WITH NO SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN DURING TAKE OFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ELDON
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65026
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
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 1645 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 38
Weather Observation Facility ID JEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 548
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 36
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2249
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) 903
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 13 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39018
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37511
NTSB Number MKC89FA109
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 BENSEN
Aircraft Model B-8KSB
Aircraft Series Identifier B-8KSB
Aircraft Serial Number SB001
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MCGREW, JOSEPH T
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 2, BOX 106 C
Aircraft Owner City ELDON
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65026
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MCGREW, JOSEPH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 2, BOX 106C
Operator City ELDON
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 65026
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 ELDON
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Takeoff
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --