Snider Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Decker, Indiana 47524
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the certified flight instructor, during the training flight he retarded engine power while the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, in order to simulate an engine failure. During the flare for the simulated forced landing, the main rotor blade of the gyroplane struck the ground, and it rolled over on its left side. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the gyroplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper landing flare, which resulted in the gyroplane's main rotor contacting the runway surface.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/6/2011
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Decker
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47524
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383000n
Event Location Longitude 0873545w
Event Location Airport Snider Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0IN1
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 400
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 900 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID 0IN1
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28777
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 11 2011 2:01PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25VK
NTSB Number CEN11CA454
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 VAN KALKER JOHN E
Aircraft Model RAF 2000 GTX SE
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 251
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 May 5 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 475
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ILLIANA AERO LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10000 S HORRALL RD
Aircraft Owner City VINCENNES
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47591
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name John Snider
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Decker
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 47524
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 0IN1
Departure City Decker
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 920
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 0IN1
Destination City Decker
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 22 2011 3:10PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --