John Roscoe AUTOGYRO CAVALON N953LS

Summary

On 19 November 2017 at about 00:45 local time, a John Roscoe AUTOGYRO CAVALON registered N953LS was involved in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 November 2017 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Casa Grande Muni (CGZ)

Coordinates

32.9536, -111.7694

Aircraft

John Roscoe AUTOGYRO CAVALON

Registration

N953LS

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Manuel → Casa Grande

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

GAA18CA049

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in loss of directional control and a subsequent runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing, the right wheel touched down first on the runway, and the gyroplane veered to the right. He added that, the "aircraft bounced from one wheel to the other" multiple times until the main rotor blade struck the runway. The gyroplane then rolled to the right, slid off the runway, and came to rest on its left side. A postcrash fire ignited in the engine compartment and consumed the gyroplane. The gyroplane was destroyed. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.