Pelt MAD MAX II SPECIAL N26VT

Summary

On 6 October 2007 at about 17:07 local time, a Pelt MAD MAX II SPECIAL registered N26VT was involved in an accident near Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 October 2007 at 17:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.2156, -80.3911

Aircraft

Pelt MAD MAX II SPECIAL

Registration

N26VT

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blacksburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA005

1 person died.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was a lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger intended to conduct a local flight in the amateur-built gyroplane, which was equipped with a Subaru EJ-22 automotive engine. The passenger placed two telephone calls prior to departing on the accident flight, and stated that the pilot was experiencing some type of mechanical difficulties with the gyroplane. According to the pilot, after a normal takeoff, the engine lost total power without any prior warning. The gyroplane was about 400 feet above ground level, and with no suitable terrain available for a forced landing, the gyroplane impacted a tree. It then fell about 40 feet to the ground and was engulfed in a post crash fire A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the "severely burned" wreckage following the accident; however, given the condition of the wreckage, he was unable to determine a specific cause for the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.