Stuart Powell Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Danville, Kentucky 40422
Tuesady, January 22, 2002 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, a steady stream of dark gray smoke was seen emanating from the homebuilt gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then turned left, climbed, and appeared to be returning to the airport. However, it impacted a field about 1 mile south of the airport. An FAA inspector examined the engine. When he attempted to rotate the crankshaft by hand, a metal binding was heard. Further examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod bearing had seized in the number one cylinder. The non-certificated engine had been removed from an automobile, and installed on the gyrocopter by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/2002
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Danville
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40422
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport STUART POWELL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DVK
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 180
Airport Elevation 1022
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DVK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1022
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12214
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1710
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2002 10:10AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Louisville, Kentucky

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N97CS
NTSB Number NYC02LA049
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 Stiles
Aircraft Model Choctaw
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 10 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 175
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Casey C. Stiles
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Harrodsburg
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40330
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 DVK
Departure City Danville
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 22 2002 3:51PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --