Lubbock Executive Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lubbock, Texas 79404
Sunday, November 10, 2013 17:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the gyroplane was too high and too slow during the landing approach. The gyroplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the tail boom. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the gyroplane before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to attain a proper glidepath for landing which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Lubbock
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79404
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332908N
Event Location Longitude 1014846W
Event Location Airport Lubbock Executive
Event Location Nearest Airport ID F82
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3200
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1600 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID LBB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 185
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
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) 32317
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ASW-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 22 2014 5:13PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N130SW
NTSB Number CEN14CA059
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 GROEN
Aircraft Model SPARROWHAWK II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number S0200010
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 9 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1123
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Glenn Davis
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Davis
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 7940496007
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Glenn Davis
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City Davis
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 7940496007
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 No
Departure Airport Code F49
Departure City Slaton
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code F82
Destination City Lubbock
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 22 2014 5:27PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --