Hallett HALLETT-1 N8331H

Summary

On 21 October 2000 at about 20:45 local time, a Hallett HALLETT-1 registered N8331H was involved in an accident near Yelm, Washington, United States. One person was 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

21 October 2000 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Yelm, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Flying B (8WA0)

Coordinates

46.8705, -122.5692

Aircraft

Hallett HALLETT-1

Registration

N8331H

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01LA009

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff when it became questionable as to whether the aircraft would be able to clear an object just off the departure end of the runway, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the object as he attempted to continue the departure. Factors include operating with a known engine deficiency, and a power line strung just off the departure end of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who was aware that the engine on his gyroplane had not been producing the expected maximum full power, attempted a takeoff at an airstrip which had a marked power line just off the departure end of the runway. After liftoff, the aircraft climbed at a very shallow angle, and by the time it had proceeded more than 90 percent of the way down the runway, it had not climbed higher than the subject obstacle. Instead of aborting the takeoff, the pilot tried to increase the aircraft's angle of climb. As the gyroplane neared the end of the runway, it seemed to the pilot that its power output was decreasing, and he became convinced that he might not be able to clear the power line. He therefore attempted to fly under the marked line, but impacted an unmarked line strung lower on the poles.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.