Ed Carlson Memorial Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Toledo, Washington 98591
Friday, April 11, 2008 12:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Immediately after takeoff the single seat gyroplane tilted forward and impacted the runway. The pilot reported to a National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he did not recall the accident. His only memory was taxiing the gyroplane in preparation for departure. A witness, who was about 1/2 mile away, observed the gyroplane through binoculars. He watched the gyroplane taxi down the runway and observed the main rotor come up to speed. The pilot performed what he thought was a normal takeoff roll, but then the gyroplane popped up into the air quicker than normal. In reaction, the pilot appeared to overcorrect, overrotating the gyroplane forward, and impacting the runway. An FAA inspector examined the gyroplane after the accident and did not find any evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper use of the flight controls during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Toledo
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98591
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 462838N
Event Location Longitude 1224822W
Event Location Airport Ed Carlson Memorial Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTDO
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 KCLs
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 --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.44
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23696
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 11 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number None
NTSB Number LAX08CA110
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Snobird
Aircraft Model Charger
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number None
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 128
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Not Registered
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name David Hill
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Battleground
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
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 KTDO
Departure City Toledo
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 27 2008 6:31PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 4480
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --