Farrington TWINSTAR N45CL

Summary

On 16 July 2025 at about 17:10 local time, a Farrington TWINSTAR registered N45CL was involved in an accident near Greencastle, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one 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

16 July 2025 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Greencastle, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Putnam County (KGPC)

Coordinates

39.6335, -86.8138

Aircraft

Farrington TWINSTAR

Registration

N45CL

Category

Gyrocraft

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA256

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inexperience in the accident gyroplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a post inspection test flight of the gyroplane. Prior to the flight, the pilot noticed the control stick pressures were greater than he had experienced with other gyroplanes he had previously flown. The gyroplane’s owner and a mechanic explained the gyroplane’s trim system to the pilot who then adjusted the trim to a setting he assumed would be sufficient to maintain control when the gyroplane was airborne. During takeoff, the gyroplane pitched up and when the pilot attempted to arrest the motion, the backstick forces on the control stick were greater than expected. The pilot lost control of the gyroplane as it continued to pitch upwards, so he reduced the engine power. The gyroplane had pitched to about 60° nose high, rolled left, and impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage. The pilot had flown several models of gyroplanes but had no flight experience in the accident gyroplane. After the accident, the pilot further learned that the gyroplane’s trim had previously been modified with a heavier trim spring which made this gyroplane respond differently than other gyroplanes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.