Chehalem Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newberg, Oregon 97132
Friday, August 2, 2002 19:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the RAF 2000 gyroplane was executing a landing to runway 25 at a small airport with strong gusty winds out of the north. As the gyroplane was slowing, and about six feet above ground, a gust of wind rapidly rolled the aircraft left about its longitudinal axis and the rotor disk struck the runway surface. The aircraft then impacted terrain and came to rest damaging the rotor assembly and pylon. The pilot reported that he should have been lower (4 feet above ground vice 6 feet) and should have given himself a longer final in order to have more time to set up for the crosswind conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation (excessive altitude) for crosswind conditions resulting in the gyroplane's rotors contacting the ground. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Newberg
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97132
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451925N
Event Location Longitude 1230314W
Event Location Airport Chehalem Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 17S
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 190
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 184
Weather Observation Facility ID MMV
Elevation of weather observation facility 163
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13528
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 2 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1950
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Hillsboro FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73GK
NTSB Number SEA02LA142
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 Kaminski
Aircraft Model RAF 2000
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number H2-00-11-478
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jul 4 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 91
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kaminski, Gary D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hillsboro
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97123
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 17S
Departure City Newberg
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 17S
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 10 2003 11:33AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2285
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --