Cartercopters CARTERCOPTER N121CC

Summary

On 16 December 1999 at about 16:45 local time, a Cartercopters CARTERCOPTER registered N121CC was involved in an accident near Olney, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 December 1999 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Olney, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Olney Municipal (ONY)

Coordinates

33.3599, -98.7497

Aircraft

Cartercopters CARTERCOPTER

Registration

N121CC

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA045

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing following the aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

For the first test flight of the day, the gyroplane's rotor was pre-rotated to 450 rpm, instead of the normal 550 rpm. As the takeoff was initiated, the collective was raised in a 'normal' manner and liftoff was accomplished. According to the pilot, 'within a few seconds into the climb, the control forces began to build, and stick shake began.' The pilot had to use both hands to apply forward cyclic pressure to 'counter' the nose pitching up. The pilot stated that he momentarily removed one hand from the cyclic to reduce power [collective]. At this time, the nose pitched up and power was reapplied to cushion the touchdown. The pilot reported that, 'application of power was not smooth and resulted in a hard landing, causing the blades to hit the rudders.' The pilot reported that after reviewing the flight data, it 'became apparent that had the collective been lowered shortly after liftoff, the rotor RPM would not have dissipated so rapidly, causing the high control forces and blade flapping.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.