Evans Properties Inc Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Pierce, Florida 34987
Saturday, February 16, 2008 13:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a go-around following a touch-and-go landing on runway 27 with the wind from 360 degrees at 15-20 knots, the gyrocopter drifted to the left. The CFI took control of the gyrocopter but the left wheel contacted a tire that bordered the south edge of the runway. The gyrocopter then yawed to the left and crashed into a canal. The CFI further stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the student to maintain directional control during a cross wind takeoff. A factor in the accident was inadequate supervision by the CFI.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/16/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Fort Pierce
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34987
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271640N
Event Location Longitude 0803509W
Event Location Airport Evans Properties Inc Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FL67
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 24
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1340 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 272
Weather Observation Facility ID KOBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23270
NTSB Notification Source FAA SROC
NTSB Notification Date --
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 --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6232Y
NTSB Number MIA08CA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Stephen F. Graves
Aircraft Model SG-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 008263995
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 700
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert F. Martian
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hobe Sound
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33455
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FL67
Departure City Fort Pierce
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1325
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FL67
Destination City Fort Pierce
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 12 2008 12:31PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 36
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --