Dummy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
Sunday, January 6, 2008 16:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The gyroplane received substantial damage when it rolled onto its left side during landing. The gyroplane's main rotor struck the runway, causing the cabin enclosure to roll over about two times before coming to rest on its right side. The pilot reported that the approach was normal, with touchdown on both main wheels. He stated that he reduced power, and then felt the right main wheel come off of the ground. He stated that he attempted to correct by moving the cyclic control to the right and forward, but the gyroplane rolled to its left. The wind conditions reported were from 20 degrees right of runway heading at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing roll. A factor was the gusting crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/6/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1640
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Valparaiso
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46383
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412712N
Event Location Longitude 0870026W
Event Location Airport Dummy
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VPZ
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID VPZ
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.77
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23153
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 6 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office South Bend, IN

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1702A
NTSB Number CHI08CA062
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 McGuire
Aircraft Model RAF2000
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number H2-03-14-577
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert T. McGuire
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Valparaiso
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46342
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code VPZ
Departure City VALPARAISO
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone --
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 22 2008 6:12PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --