New Braunfels Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Friday, November 11, 2005 17:05 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 700-hour private pilot/builder/owner was approaching Runway 13 when a gust of wind turned the gyrocopter sideways. The gyrocopter subsequently flipped inverted and impacted the runway. Examination of the gyrocopter did not reveal any mechanical deficiencies. The winds at the airport were reported from 150 degrees at 12 knots near the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing. A contributing factor was the high winds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/11/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City New Braunfels
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78130
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 294210N
Event Location Longitude 0980219W
Event Location Airport New Braunfels Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BAZ
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 651
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BAZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 651
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
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) 29.97
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) 19353
NTSB Notification Source SAT FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Nov 12 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N100KR
NTSB Number DFW06LA028
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 Rehler
Aircraft Model Gyrocopter
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 975
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kenneth Rehler
Aircraft Owner Street Address 821 Lone Star Drive
Aircraft Owner City New Braunfels
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78130
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 BAZ
Departure City New Braunfels
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 5:54PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 5352
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --