Edward F Knapp State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Barre, Vermont 05602
Saturday, September 22, 2001 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing from runway 5, when he experienced a "strong cross-wind gust," which lifted the gyroplane off the ground, and turned it into the wind. The gyroplane then dropped to the ground, perpendicular to the runway, and flipped over. The pilot reported he experienced no mechanical problems with the gyroplane. Winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were variable in direction at 6 knots, with 15 knot gusts.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff. A factor in this accident were wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/22/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Barre
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05602
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 441212N
Event Location Longitude 0723344W
Event Location Airport EDWARD F KNAPP STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MPV
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 1165
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1351 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MPV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11766
NTSB Notification Source NEOC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 25 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2002 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90407
NTSB Number NYC01LA230
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Carver
Aircraft Model RAF 2000 GTX SE
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number H2956193
Certified Max Gross Weight 1540
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 20 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 73
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis P. Carver
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City East Montpelier
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05651
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 MPV
Departure City Barre
Departure State VT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1350
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MPV
Destination City Barre
Destination State VT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 8 2002 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 4022
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --