Pearson Jon M DRAGONFLY N975DF

Summary

On 16 November 2013 at about 19:15 local time, a Pearson Jon M DRAGONFLY registered N975DF, operated by Weir Steven Wayne, was involved in an accident near Anahuac, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 2013 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Anahuac, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Chambers County (T00)

Coordinates

29.7594, -94.6667

Aircraft

Pearson Jon M DRAGONFLY

Registration

N975DF

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Weir Steven Wayne

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anahuac → Anahuac

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA056

1 person died.

The incorrect installation by the pilot, who was not a certificated mechanic or repairman, of the main rotor head bearing block, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the rotor head. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The gyroplane was in the airport traffic pattern when witnesses saw the main rotor head separate in flight and the gyroplane subsequently impact terrain. The pilot's friends and the mechanic who performed the last conditional inspection reported that the pilot/owner performed most of the maintenance on the gyroplane and that he had recently installed the main rotor head bearing block. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the bearing block had been installed upside down and was being held in place solely by friction. The pilot was not a Federal Aviation Administration-certificated mechanic or repairman.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.