Wessel VORTEX N546SW
1 September 2007 · Mesa, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 1 September 2007 at about 22:46 local time, a Wessel VORTEX registered N546SW was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 22:46
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mesa, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Falcon Field (FFZ)
- Coordinates
- 33.5117, -111.6983
- Aircraft
- Wessel VORTEX
- Registration
- N546SW
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mesa → Mesa
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX07CA262
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
Failure of the muffler's mounting strap and subsequent loss of engine power due to propeller blade separation during cruise flight. A contributing factor was the unsuitable 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 gyrocopter collided with high vegetation and rough terrain during a forced autorotation following the in-flight separation of a propeller blade. The pilot reported that the muffler's mounting strap broke during cruise flight, which caused one composite pusher propeller blade to separate. The pilot autorotated to a forced landing in a ravine. During touchdown the gyrocopter rolled over upon impacting 5-foot-high bushes.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 2007 | Grumman American AA-5A | Benson, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 May 2007 | Piper PA-24-250 | Winslow, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Sep 2007 | Piper PA-28-140 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Brian K. Brooks | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 2007 | Cessna 340A | Chandler, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2007 | Waltz SONEX WAIEX | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Wendel W. Waltz | No injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 2007 | Cessna 172S | Prescott, Arizona, United States | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott | No injuries | - |