Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Festus Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Festus, Missouri 63028
Sunday, October 20, 2013 13:10 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The sport pilot reported that days prior to the accident flight, he adjusted the propeller and re-installed it without testing its performance. On the accident flight, he departed the runway and remained in ground effect until he reached 50 mph, then began a climb. As he flew the gyroplane to the south, the surrounding terrain elevation decreased and the pilot thought he was climbing. The engine was operating about 6,300 rpm and the airspeed was 40 mph; the engine develops maximum horsepower at 6,750 rpm and the best climb speed is 45 mph. The pilot initiated a left turn to land in a field or back at the airport, but the wind pushed the gyroplane and the pilot lost control. The gyroplane impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage to the tube frame, vertical tail, and rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He reported that the propeller was not adjusted properly in order to provide maximum engine rpm and subsequently maximum climb performance. Due to the slow airspeed, it is likely that the gyroplane experienced an aerodynamic stall.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's improper propeller adjustment, which resulted in decreased performance and a loss of aircraft control.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/20/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1310 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Festus |
| Event State | MISSOURI |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 63028 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 381129N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0902309W |
| Event Location Airport | FESTUS MEMORIAL |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | FES |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 185 |
| Airport Elevation | 433 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1315 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 184 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KFAM |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 947 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 26 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| 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) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 18 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 5 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 190 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.98 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KFAM 201815Z AUTO 19010KT 10SM CLR 18/05 A29 |
| Event Highest Injury | Minor |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | 2 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 32167 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 6 2013 10:31AM |
| User who most recently changed record | linj-i |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N7064U |
| NTSB Number | CEN14CA039 |
| 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 | WOHASKA JOHN |
| Aircraft Model | PARSONS STILES GYRO |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | NO SERIES |
| Aircraft Serial Number | JW1070 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 890 |
| 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 | Jun 1 2013 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 45 |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | Unknown |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | WOHASKA JOHN S |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | ARNOLD |
| Aircraft Owner State | MO |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 630101872 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | WOHASKA JOHN S |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | ARNOLD |
| Operator State | MO |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 630101872 |
| 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 | FES |
| Departure City | Festus |
| Departure State | MO |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1300 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | H49 |
| Destination City | COLUMBIA |
| Destination State | IL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 6 2013 10:31AM |
| User who most recently changed record | linj-i |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 18 |
| Runway Length | 2202 |
| Runway Width | 49 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |