Benson B8M N6572K
16 March 1991 · Hartselle, Alabama, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 16 March 1991 at about 20:05 local time, a Benson B8M registered N6572K, operated by Spivey, Franklin G., was involved in an accident near Hartselle, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 20:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hartselle, Alabama, United States
- Nearest airport
- Rountree Field (5MO)
- Coordinates
- 34.4296, -86.9291
- Aircraft
- Benson B8M
- Registration
- N6572K
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Spivey, Franklin G.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91LA066
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR BEARING BLOCK BY THE OWNER/PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE GYROCOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS NOT RATED IN GYROCOPTER'S HAD BUILT AND DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE GYROCOPTER. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RETAINER WASHER WAS MISSING FROM THE MAIN ROTOR BEARING BLOCK ASSEMBLY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Benson B8M accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Dec 1994 | Benson B8M | Adelanto, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 1984 | Benson B8M | Willimantic, Connecticut, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1984 | Benson B8M | Newman Lake, Washington, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Oct 1983 | Benson B8M | Libby, Montana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1982 | Benson B8M | Ashland, Kentucky, United States | Michael Donahue | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Sep 1982 | Benson B8M | Walls, Mississippi, United States | Joan R. Reese | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1991 | Globe GC-1D | Brewton, Alabama, United States | Jang, Kenneth | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1991 | Rockwell 114 | Bessemer, Alabama, United States | Frank, Randal W. | Fatal | 4 |
| 7 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-31-350 | Munford, Alabama, United States | MacOn Horizons, Inc | Fatal | 4 |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Ashland, Alabama, United States | Sunny Skies, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Taylorcraft BC12-D | Mobile, Alabama, United States | Bean, Edwin A. | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1991 | Cessna C-172N | Alabaster, Alabama, United States | Teleunion Corp. | Fatal | 2 |