Hickox Andy ANDYS GYROPLANE N152AH

Summary

On 28 September 2017 at about 15:22 local time, a Hickox Andy ANDYS GYROPLANE registered N152AH was involved in an accident near Umatilla, Florida, 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

28 September 2017 at 15:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Umatilla, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.9078, -81.6364

Aircraft

Hickox Andy ANDYS GYROPLANE

Registration

N152AH

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zellwood → Zellwood

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17FA339

1 person died.

The pilot's improper response to a total loss of engine power, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the rudder and vertical stabilizer, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent. The loss of engine power was due to the separation of the electrical connector to the coil of the crank triggered ignition system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot, who was endorsed for solo flight in the experimental, amateur-built gyroplane, was conducting a personal flight. About 1 1/2 hours after takeoff, a witness saw the gyroplane flying about 50 to 60 ft above ground level then heard two "bang" or "pop" sounds. The engine then lost all power and a section of one main rotor blade separated about the same time. The gyroplane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted a wooded area. Components of the gyroplane consisting of the vertical stabilizer and rudder, which exhibited evidence of contact by the main rotor, and pieces of foam and propeller blade fragments were located along the energy path. Postaccident examination of the gyroplane revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls for the main rotor, while examination of the engine revealed that the electrical connection from the coil of the crank triggered ignition, which did not have a secondary locking device, was disconnected; this would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The investigation could not determine if any prior maintenance was performed on the gyroplane which would have resulted in disconnecting and reconnecting the crank triggered electrical connection. Although the pilot's control response following the loss of engine power could not be determined, main rotor contact with the vertical stabilizer/rudder is consistent with either an unloading of the main rotor blades, or an overcorrection (excessive control input) following the loss of engine power. While toxicology testing indicated that the pilot had used diphenhydramine at some time before the accident, the blood level of the potentially impairing medication could not be determined. Based on the circumstances of the accident, it is unlikely that the pilot's use of diphenhydramine contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.