Reed Roderick KB3 GYROPLANE UNREG

Summary

On 14 May 2011 at about 14:15 local time, a Reed Roderick KB3 GYROPLANE registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Scott, Louisiana, 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

14 May 2011 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Scott, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Private strip (N/A)

Coordinates

30.2769, -92.1528

Aircraft

Reed Roderick KB3 GYROPLANE

Registration

UNREG

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 103: Ultralight

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Scott → Scott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA336

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's poor decision to takeoff with a tailwind which resulted in a runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot he was taking off from a private grass strip with a tailwind. Approximately half way down the runway the gyroplane became airborne. He looked down to check his engine instruments, and when he looked back up he was approaching the end of the runway and a fence line. He was unable to maneuver over the fence and the gyroplane impacted the top of the fence line. The gyroplane's fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He said he was aware of the tailwind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.