Airlake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeville, Minnesota 55024
Monday, August 17, 2009 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While landing the gyroplane, the pilot stated that his "initial" flare at an altitude of 15 to 20 feet above the runway was normal. At 5 feet above the runway, the gyroplane ballooned and the pilot added power to recover. The gyroplane then yawed to the right. The pilot applied left rudder, but touchdown occurred prior to the gyroplane being aligned with the runway. The gyroplane's nose spun to the left when the main wheels touched down and the gyroplane rolled onto its right side.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the landing flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lakeville
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55024
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 443725N
Event Location Longitude 0931341W
Event Location Airport Airlake
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LVN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 960
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1723 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LVN
Elevation of weather observation facility 960
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26054
NTSB Notification Source FAA-MSP-FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2009 2:26PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2107
NTSB Number CEN09CA539
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DUNN DAVID
Aircraft Model RAF 2000 C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number DD-JL72404
Certified Max Gross Weight 1540
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 8 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 127
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Christopher Awe
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Apple Valley
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55124
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Christopher Awe
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Apple Valley
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55124
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 LVN
Departure City Lakeville
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LVN
Destination City Lakeville
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2009 4:07PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 4098
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --