Korrison Tom SPARROW HAWK N51140

Summary

On 7 September 2012 at about 17:00 local time, a Korrison Tom SPARROW HAWK registered N51140, operated by D'ewart JAY C, was involved in an accident near Spanish Fork, Utah, 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

7 September 2012 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Spanish Fork, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Spanish Fork - Springville (U77)

Coordinates

40.1414, -111.6611

Aircraft

Korrison Tom SPARROW HAWK

Registration

N51140

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

D'ewart JAY C

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spanish Fork → Spanish Fork

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA404

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the gyroplane during an aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot had been receiving dual instruction in a gyroplane. During the takeoff portion of his first solo flight in the gyroplane, it began drifting toward the edge of the runway. Although the pilot aborted the takeoff and tried to realign the gyroplane with the runway, his control inputs resulted in the gyroplane rolling onto its side, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. According to the pilot, there was no indication of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.