McCulloch J-2 N4354G

Summary

On 17 June 1989 at about 19:00 local time, a McCulloch J-2 registered N4354G was involved in an accident near Oxford, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 June 1989 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Oxford, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.5006, -84.7395

Aircraft

McCulloch J-2

Registration

N4354G

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shelbyville → Middletown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI89FA114

2 people died.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OPERATOR TO REPLACE THE MAIN ROTOR THRUST BEARING. THE EXPIRED SERVICE LIFE OF THE MAIN ROTOR THRUST BEARING IS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AUTOGYRO BROKE UP IN FLIGHT WHILE MANEUVERING DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED SEEING THE ROTOR BLADES SLOW AND FOLD UP AS THE AUTOGYRO FLEW SLOWLY OVER A LAKE. ONE ROTOR BLADE WAS SEEN TO SEPARATE FROM THE ROTORHEAD AND FALL SOME DISTANCE FROM THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AUTOGYRO THEN CRASHED INTO THE LAKE. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR MAST THRUST BEARING WAS GALLED AND HAD SEIZED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.