Paniola Air Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Citra, Florida 32113
Saturday, March 16, 2002 12:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental gyrocopter collided with terrain on departure from a private airstrip in Citra, Florida. According to witnesses, they went into their house and said they heard a "strange noise" followed by an apparent reduction in power. The gyrocopter was found in wooded area on the side of the strip. Examination of the aircraft revealed continuity of all flight controls. The pusher propeller was broken and the rotor blades were bent. The rudder was found still hanging by its cables. Examination of the gyrocopter failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilots failure to maintain flight control, followed by a subsequent collision with the terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Citra
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32113
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 292230N
Event Location Longitude 0820329W
Event Location Airport PANIOLA AIR RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FD14
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 140
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GNV
Elevation of weather observation facility 152
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9500
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
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) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) 1472
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) 12265
NTSB Notification Source FA A FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Mar 16 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 20 2002 10:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6158F
NTSB Number ATL02LA064
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 Kopp Robert E
Aircraft Model GYRO-KOPP-TER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number GK393S81002
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 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 58
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert L Engle
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14727 N US Highway 441
Aircraft Owner City Citra
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32113
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 FD14
Departure City CITRA
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
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 Climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2002 11:38AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --