Eells AIR COMMAND 503 N25069

Summary

On 15 September 2002 at about 16:30 local time, a Eells AIR COMMAND 503 registered N25069 was involved in an accident near Prineville, Oregon, 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

15 September 2002 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Prineville, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Prineville (S39)

Coordinates

44.2894, -120.9064

Aircraft

Eells AIR COMMAND 503

Registration

N25069

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prineville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02LA176

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that he flew the gyroplane down to about 11 feet above the runway surface for landing. He then pulled the control stick back to level the aircraft. The student pilot stated that the aircraft ballooned a little so he pushed the stick forward. At this point, the aircraft was about 12 feet above the runway and it began to rapidly descend. The student pilot applied power to arrest the sink rate, however, the rotor speed had decayed and the aircraft landed hard with no forward airspeed. After touchdown, the aircraft bounced and tilted to the left. The rotors contacted the runway surface and the aircraft came to rest on its left side. The student pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.