Air & Space 18A N6101S
22 September 1989 · Palo Alto, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 22 September 1989 at about 19:04 local time, a Air & Space 18A registered N6101S, operated by Pegasus Rotorcraft, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:04
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Palo Alto, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palo Alto (PAO)
- Coordinates
- 37.4494, -122.1006
- Aircraft
- Air & Space 18A
- Registration
- N6101S
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Pegasus Rotorcraft
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX89LA320
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AS THE GYROPLANE WENT INTO GROUND RESONANCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) REPORTED THAT HIS STUDENT HAD JUST ATTEMPTED A TAKE OFF AT PALO ALTO AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 30. THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE GYROPLANE WENT OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO A NEARBY SERVICE ROAD WITHOUT BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE INSTRUCTOR THEN DECIDED TO MAKE THE TAKE OFF HIMSELF FROM THE SERVICE ROAD. HE SAID THAT HE ACCELERATED THE ROTOR SPEED TO 350 RPM BEFORE DEPRESSING THE TAKE OFF BUTTON, & ONCE THE TAKE OFF BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE GYROPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. REPORTEDLY IT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF TWO TO THREE FEET, THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND & ENTERED GROUND RESONANCE. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND THAT THEY WERE THEN 'ALONG FOR THE RIDE.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air & Space 18 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1988 | Air & Space 18A | Palo Alto, California, United States | Rienhard, Joesph | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Air & Space 18-A | Brandon, Florida, United States | Ates, Joyce | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 1990 | Air & Space 18A | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | FAA (Btr Fsdo) | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1987 | Air & Space 18A | Paducah, Kentucky, United States | IRA D.farrington | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1987 | Air & Space 18A | Paducah, Kentucky, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1993 | Air & Space 18-A | Paducah, Kentucky, United States | Farrington Aircraft, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-31-350 | Ontario, California, United States | Ameriflight | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-25-235 | Warner Springs, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 1989 | Cessna 310K | Ojai, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Sep 1989 | Cessna 182 | Eureka, California, United States | Nothern Air | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1989 | Cessna 152 | Lancaster, California, United States | West Coast Air Center | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Sep 1989 | Bellanca 17-30A | Palo Alto, California, United States | Klouda, Linda K. | Minor injuries | - |