Autogyro CALIDUS N623AG

Summary

On 7 July 2018 at about 20:00 local time, a Autogyro CALIDUS registered N623AG was involved in an accident near Tacoma, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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 July 2018 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tacoma, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Tacoma Narrows (TIW)

Coordinates

47.2725, -122.5767

Aircraft

Autogyro CALIDUS

Registration

N623AG

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tacoma → Tacoma

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA190

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to properly configure the gyrocopter for takeoff, which resulted in it developing high speed and led to a subsequent loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While preparing for takeoff in the gyrocopter, the commercial pilot had difficulty getting the prerotator to engage with the rotor ring gear, so he aborted the takeoff attempt. He then taxied off the runway to a run-up area and successfully engaged the prerotator to the rotor ring gear. The pilot then taxied onto the runway, and the rotor reached 200 rpm, after which he began the second takeoff attempt. The pilot stated that he recalled pulling the control stick aft while the gyrocopter was accelerating down the runway. Subsequently, the gyrocopter suddenly began climbing and shaking violently. The pilot then lost control of the gyrocopter, and it descended, struck the runway, skidded about 100 ft, exited the left side of the runway, and then came to rest on its left side. A witness reported that the gyrocopter began the takeoff roll with the rotor level with the runway. During an interview with the flight instructor who trained the pilot in the gyrocopter, she stated that, when engaging the prerotator for takeoff, it is essential to keep the control stick fully forward to protect the airframe from the slow-spinning rotor. A fully forward control stick would place the rotor level with the ground, as described by the witness. The rotor then needs to achieve 200 rpm, followed by the control stick being moved fully aft for the takeoff roll, tilting the rotor. Further, the Airplane Owner's Manual contained a warning stating that "Prior to releasing the wheel brake, make sure that the control stick is fully aft…A takeoff run with a flat rotor system may have fatal consequences." Given the pilot and witness statements and that the gyrocopter skidded 100 ft after impacting the runway, it is likely that the pilot did not pull the control stick fully aft after prerotating the rotor to 200 rpm and conducted the second takeoff attempt with the control stick not fully aft and with the rotor level with the ground. The pilot’s failure to properly configure the gyrocopter for takeoff resulted in it developing high speed during the takeoff roll and the subsequent loss of control. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.