Degraw RHINO II N122DG

Summary

On 15 July 2011 at about 14:45 local time, a Degraw RHINO II registered N122DG, operated by Degraw Richard R Trustee, was involved in an accident near Jackson, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and 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

15 July 2011 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip

Coordinates

42.1808, -84.2753

Aircraft

Degraw RHINO II

Registration

N122DG

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Degraw Richard R Trustee

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Jackson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA481

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The witness, who was also the owner, builder, and designer of the gyroplane, reported that the gyroplane did a “mild jumpstart,” climbed to about 200 feet above ground level (agl), and was traveling about 20 to 25 mph when the wind changed to the opposite direction. The nose of the gyroplane pitched up, the airspeed dropped to about 5 mph, and the gyroplane yawed to the right about 80 degrees, pitched down, and yawed to the left. The witness reported that the pilot pulled up on the collective. The main rotor blades “started flapping,” and the gyroplane plunged to the ground from about 30 feet agl. It impacted the ground in about a 20-degree-nose-down and 10-degree-left-roll attitude. The witness reported that ballast was not placed in the front seat for the flight, which moved the center or gravity (CG) aft; however, the previous takeoff had been successful. The witness expressed his belief that the slower than normal takeoff speed, the wind reversal, and the aft CG were factors in the accident. He reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the gyroplane. The examination of the gyroplane revealed no preexisting anomalies to the engine or airframe. The reported surface wind about 10 miles from the accident site was variable at 5 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.