Spagnoletti AIR COMMAND 582 N813AC

Summary

On 12 September 1999 at about 20:00 local time, a Spagnoletti AIR COMMAND 582 registered N813AC was involved in an accident near Conroe, 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

12 September 1999 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Conroe, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Montgomery County (CXO)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Spagnoletti AIR COMMAND 582

Registration

N813AC

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

FTW99FA256

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff/initial climb. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience in the type of aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff/initial climb at 250 feet agl, the gyroplane was observed in a nose high attitude, banked right, when the main rotor blade at the 6 o'clock position appeared to stop moving and the main rotor blade at the 12 o'clock position appeared to fold back on itself. The gyroplane, under full power, nose dived onto a taxiway and continued into the adjacent grassy area before coming to rest. Prior to the accident flight, the builder/owner found no discrepancies with the gyroplane during his preflight and flight. He further stated that the 'gyroplane was 100 percent perfect for flight.' The builder/owner stated that the accident pilot 'unloaded the blades, the blades flapped, and with the engine at full power, the gyroplane entered a somersault.' Examination of the main rotor blades and hub revealed damage consistent with severe instability in the main rotor system. The pilot had accumulated 10 hours in gyroplanes and had not flown the accident gyroplane in a year.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.