Eiland RAF-200 GYRO N4416N

Summary

On 18 September 2005 at about 19:15 local time, a Eiland RAF-200 GYRO registered N4416N was involved in an accident near Bend, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 2005 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bend, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Bend Municipal Airport (S07)

Coordinates

44.0947, -121.2006

Aircraft

Eiland RAF-200 GYRO

Registration

N4416N

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bend → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05CA195

1 person had minor injuries.

The malfunction of the flight controls for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during the initial takeoff climb from runway 34, he noticed that the "controls felt sluggish compared to normal precise feeling of the gyroplane." He decided to execute a 180 degree turn back to the taxiway parallel to the runway. As soon as he began a shallow turn to the right, the gyroplane entered "a very steep diving spiral turn," and the controls "seemed totally ineffective." The gyroplane continued to descend and turn until it impacted a road running perpendicular to the runway about 50 feet north of the departure end. The pilot reported that the "cause of control malfunction is uncertain."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.