Unknown BENSEN GYROCOPTER UNREG
13 August 2000 · MacEdon, New York, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 13 August 2000 at about 14:30 local time, a Unknown BENSEN GYROCOPTER registered UNREG, operated by Greg K. Gerace, was involved in an accident near MacEdon, New York, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. 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 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- MacEdon, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private Airstrip (NONE)
- Coordinates
- 43.0591, -77.3005
- Aircraft
- Unknown BENSEN GYROCOPTER
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Unknown
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Greg K. Gerace
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- IAD00LA074
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyrocopter. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of total flight experience and familiarity with the gyrocopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The non-certificated pilot had recently purchased the unregistered homebuilt gyrocopter, and was training himself how to fly. At first, the pilot made several low-altitude 'hops' down an airstrip, which built his confidence to make a full go-around of the airstrip. The pilot departed into the wind and climbed to an altitude of 30 feet before he turned to the left. Once he completed the left turn, the gyrocopter began to lose lift and descended over parked farm equipment. About 10-feet above the ground, the main rotor blades contacted a hay wagon, which sheared the main rotor and mast from the gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then came to rest inverted about 30-feet away from the hay wagon. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had been properly trained and was better educated about FAA regulations. There were no mechanical malfunctions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 2000 | Piper J3C-65 | Middletown, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Piper PA-18-150 | Dansville, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 2000 | Cessna 185 | Saratoga Sprngs, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 2000 | Cessna 150G | Conesus, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Nov 2000 | Cessna 180H | Long Lake, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Cessna 172G | North Elba, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |