Vigneau RAF 2000 GTX N9327B

Summary

On 21 November 2004 at about 20:30 local time, a Vigneau RAF 2000 GTX registered N9327B was involved in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, 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 November 2004 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chatham, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Chatham Municipal Airport (CQX)

Coordinates

41.6883, -69.9911

Aircraft

Vigneau RAF 2000 GTX

Registration

N9327B

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chatham → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05CA019

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a takeoff. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in gyroplanes.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just completed 20 hours of dual instruction in the gyroplane, and was signed off by his instructor to conduct solo operations. After successfully completing his second solo landing, the pilot allowed the gyroplane to roll out on the runway, and before coming to a stop, applied power to take off again. The gyroplane suddenly veered to the left and rolled over. The pilot added that he forgot to come to a complete stop in the gyroplane, from habit of flying fixed-wing airplanes for 16 years, and that "you must first come to a complete stop," before taking off after a landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.