Benson B8M UNREG
10 December 1994 · Adelanto, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 10 December 1994 at about 22:26 local time, a Benson B8M registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Adelanto, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:26
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Adelanto, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- El Mirage Dry Lake Bed
- Coordinates
- 34.6591, -117.5101
- Aircraft
- Benson B8M
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA047
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the downwind turn and his resulting failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm. A factor in the accident was the lack of an airspeed indicator.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A DRY LAKE BED IN THE UNREGISTERED AND UNCERTIFICATED GYROCOPTER, THE PILOT TURNED CROSSWIND AND THEN DOWNWIND AT A WITNESS-ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 200 AND 300 FEET AGL. THE WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND AND STRIKE POWER LINES, THEN FALL TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT OF A SECOND AIRCRAFT THAT TOOK OFF AHEAD OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT STATED THAT AS HE TURNED DOWNWIND, HE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO ADD BOTH POWER AND COLLECTIVE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE BECAUSE OF THE WINDS. THE AIRFRAME WAS EXAMINED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE GYROCOPTER IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN AIRSPEED INDICATOR AND THE PILOT MUST JUDGE HIS AIRSPEED BY RELATIVE GROUND MOTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Benson B8M accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 1991 | Benson B8M | Hartselle, Alabama, United States | Spivey, Franklin G. | Fatal | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |