Cartercopters CARTERCOPTER N121CC

Summary

On 25 March 2001 at about 17:35 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

25 March 2001 at 17:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Olney, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Olney Muni (ONY)

Coordinates

33.3593, -98.7505

Aircraft

Cartercopters CARTERCOPTER

Registration

N121CC

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Olney → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA086

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, which resuted in the main rotor contacting the tail during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A design change was made to the main rotor pitch system of the experimental prototype gyroplane prior to the accident flight. The change incorporated an increase to the main rotor pitch with the collective in the down position. The flight was to takeoff from the runway, climb to 50 feet, fly along the runway, and land on the departure end of the runway. After lift off from the runway, about 5 feet, "a severe out of track condition" was noted and the fuselage rolled left. The pilot immediately reduced the throttle to abort the takeoff and attempted to level the aircraft. In order to level the aircraft prior to touchdown, the pilot had to increase the collective to keep the aircraft airborne until the roll could be corrected. The airspeed had increased to 60 mph, "which was too high [an] airspeed for the collective position and rotor rpm." The rotor exceeded the flapping limits and struck the tail and pusher propeller on landing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by "improved and more visible rotor rpm and blade flapping indication."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.