Blanton RAF 2000 N14GR

Summary

On 28 November 1998 at about 21:00 local time, a Blanton RAF 2000 registered N14GR was involved in an accident near The Colony, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 November 1998 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

The Colony, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.0903, -96.8796

Aircraft

Blanton RAF 2000

Registration

N14GR

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Caddo Mills → Fort Worth

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99FA038

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyroplane during cruise flight. A factor was the gusty wind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The gyroplane's main rotor blades contacted the rudder during gusty wind conditions. According to two gyroplane pilots, they were, along with the accident gyroplane pilot, each flying their own gyroplane from Caddo Mills, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas. The last time the pilots observed the accident gyroplane, it was traveling at 80 miles per hour and 800 feet above ground level, straight-and-level, towards the destination airport. The pilots reported that the wind was from the south at '20 knots and was gusty.' One pilot stated that he encountered a gust, which he estimated at '50 knots.' A weather observation facility reported that the wind was from 200 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. A witness saw the gyroplane flying south and observed 'things coming off.' The wreckage distribution path was 3,397 feet in length, beginning with a fragment of main rotor blade and terminating with the engine, cabin, and main fuselage frame. Fragments of rudder were found scattered between 1,162 feet and 2,852 feet from the beginning of the wreckage path. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.