Denzil Velarde MTO SPORT N291AG

Summary

On 24 March 2024 at about 18:10 local time, a Denzil Velarde MTO SPORT registered N291AG was involved in an accident near Tavernier, Florida, 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

24 March 2024 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Tavernier, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tavernaero Park (FA81)

Coordinates

25.0045, -80.5356

Aircraft

Denzil Velarde MTO SPORT

Registration

N291AG

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

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA153

2 people had minor injuries.

The gyroplane’s encounter with a tailwind during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and subsequent forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The gyroplane was unable to maintain sufficient airspeed and altitude after takeoff, so the pilot attempted to “land like a helicopter” on a side road. While maneuvering to land, the wind blew the gyroplane backward and the tail section impacted a concrete fence. The gyroplane came to rest on its side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported the winds were variable at 10 knots. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal evidence of any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Although the calculated relative humidity showed the possibility of carburetor icing at low power setting, the pilot had only operated the gyroplane for about six minutes before taking off, which likely was not a sufficient amount of time for carburetor icing to form. It is likely that shifting winds resulted in a tailwind during the takeoff, and the gyroplane did not have sufficient airspeed at liftoff to maintain flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.