Okeechobee County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Okeechobee, Florida 34972
Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:02 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot informed his friends that he was having problems with the pre-rotator not getting over 60 rpm. He stated that he might reengage the pre-rotator after he started his takeoff roll. Although there were no witnesses to the accident, a departing pilot observed the wreckage on the side of the runway. Examination of the accident site revealed evidence on the taxiway of the aircraft swerving to the right, continuing forward 106 feet before it started to roll to the left. The crash debris line was 230 feet long. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies. The NTSB was informed that if the pre-rotator was reengaged while the engine was at a power setting higher than idle, the resulting torque forces could cause the aircraft to lurch to the right, thus causing a roll to the left. Additionally, the pilot had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery approximately 2 ½ years prior to the accident. On autopsy, the pilot’s heart was noted to be markedly enlarged, but all bypass grafts remained open. It could not be determined whether the pilot may have had an incapacitating event that precipitated the accident. The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the gyrocopter while taxiing for takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1002
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Okeechobee
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34972
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271559N
Event Location Longitude 0805101W
Event Location Airport Okeechobee County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OBE
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 34
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1025 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
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) 25470
NTSB Notification Source Okeechobee County Sheriff's Of
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 15 2009 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5098L
NTSB Number ERA09LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name McNear
Aircraft Model Explorer Coupe
Aircraft Series Identifier 2000
Aircraft Serial Number H2-95-6-154
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
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 2000
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph P. McNear
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9400 Heather Lane
Aircraft Owner City Fort Myers
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33917
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Donald E. McGregor
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 19455 NW 80th Drive
Operator City Okeechobee
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34972
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 OBE
Departure City Okeechobee
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code OBE
Destination City Okeechobee
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 15 2009 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --