Hunt SPARROWHAWK N29HT

Summary

On 15 October 2011 at about 16:15 local time, a Hunt SPARROWHAWK registered N29HT was involved in an accident near Blair, Nebraska, United States. One person was 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

15 October 2011 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Blair, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Blair Municipal (BTA)

Coordinates

41.4089, -96.1053

Aircraft

Hunt SPARROWHAWK

Registration

N29HT

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blair → Blair

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA029

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot/builder’s inadequate installation of a nosewheel steering component, which resulted in a shimmy and a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, the nosewheel experienced a shimmy, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The gyrocopter rolled onto its left side, exited the side of the runway, and came to rest in the grass. During the rollover, the main rotor mast sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the gyrocopter revealed a loose bolt in the nose gear steering linkage, which allowed the nosewheel to shimmy. The pilot, who was also the builder, was testing the newly built gyrocopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.