Atkins John RAF 2000 G N1435X

Summary

On 9 May 2009 at about 21:00 local time, a Atkins John RAF 2000 G registered N1435X, operated by Rogers Randall H, was involved in an accident near South Prairie, Washington, 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

9 May 2009 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

South Prairie, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Cawley South Prairie (02WA)

Coordinates

47.1522, -122.0939

Aircraft

Atkins John RAF 2000 G

Registration

N1435X

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Rogers Randall H

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

South Prairie → Auburn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09CA232

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid a collision that resulted in an airspeed reduction and subsequent loss of lift provided by the rotor system. Contributing to the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout for other aircraft in the traffic pattern.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during takeoff initial climb from the uncontrolled airport, at 50 feet above ground level, he heard the sound of an airplane coming towards him from the left and saw a shadow of the airplane on the ground merging with his, and initiated an abrupt turn of 90 degrees to the right to avoid a collision. Upon completion of the turn, the pilot noticed that he had lost a significant amount of airspeed and was heading toward a residential structure. The pilot initiated a second turn to the right to miss the house and attempted to regain airspeed. Subsequently, the gyroplane impacted terrain adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the flight control system or engine prior to the accident. A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported that another aircraft was apparently making a high-speed pass over the runway and overflew the gyroplane as it was taking off.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.