Front Range Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watkins, Colorado 80137
Thursday, September 26, 2013 11:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll, the pilot stated that the cyclic control slipped out of his hand, followed by an abrupt pitch up of the gyroplane. After becoming airborne for a brief time, the gyroplane descended tail first onto the runway and then cartwheeled several times, coming to rest on its right side. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of control of the gyroplane during takeoff roll, following his inadvertent release of the cyclic control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Watkins
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80137
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394738N
Event Location Longitude 1043251W
Event Location Airport FRONT RANGE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FTG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.2
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 5512
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1129 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID FTG
Elevation of weather observation facility 5521
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
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) 29.85
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report SPECI KFTG 261729Z 06005KT 50SM SKC 15/07 A2985 RM
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) 32151
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Adminstration
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 10 2013 9:37AM
User who most recently changed record folm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N728PJ
NTSB Number CEN13CA564
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 TREIDEL MARK/R F D
Aircraft Model DOMINATOR
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number MT-001
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 16 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 225
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EGAN JAMES C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City DENVER
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80231
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name EGAN JAMES C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City DENVER
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80231
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FTG
Departure City Watkins
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FTG
Destination City Watkins
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 10 2013 9:37AM
User who most recently changed record folm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --