MACEDON, NY, USA
UNREG
Unknown BENSEN GYROCOPTER
The non-certificated pilot had recently purchased the unregistered homebuilt gyrocopter, and was training himself how to fly. At first, the pilot made several low-altitude 'hops' down an airstrip, which built his confidence to make a full go-around of the airstrip. The pilot departed into the wind and climbed to an altitude of 30 feet before he turned to the left. Once he completed the left turn, the gyrocopter began to lose lift and descended over parked farm equipment. About 10-feet above the ground, the main rotor blades contacted a hay wagon, which sheared the main rotor and mast from the gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then came to rest inverted about 30-feet away from the hay wagon. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had been properly trained and was better educated about FAA regulations. There were no mechanical malfunctions.
On August 13, 2000, at 1030 Eastern Daylight Time, an unregistered homebuilt Bensen gyrocopter, was substantially damaged after take-off from a private airstrip in Macedon, New York. The non-certificated pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said: "I have owned the Benson for approx. 1 month, and had been self training on it. By making low altitude 'hops' down the strip I became confident enough to attempt to make a go-around of the strip.' "The morning of the incident, I performed a pre-flight and found nothing amiss. I then taxied to the south end of the strip, turned around, and prepared to take off. I pre-rotated the main rotor to 150 RPM and began my take-off roll. Lift off occurred after about 250-300 ft down the strip. Airspeed was approx. 40 MPH, rotor speed was approx. 400 RPM, and the throttle was full open. I determined I had a positive climb and about 30 ft up I began a left turn losing lift. I descended into an area adjacent to the strip where many farm implements are parked. I saw a small area where nothing was and hoped to land. At about 10 ft from the ground the main rotor blades hit the high sides of a hay wagon, ripping the blades and mast off of the flyer. The main body of the Benson came to rest approx. 30 ft from the hay wagon, upside down. I was able to remove the seat belt and extract myself before help arrived." The pilot continued: "I believe, I was too heavy for the gyro and too much weight was forward. The head wind provided extra lift on take off, but when I turned cross wind, I lost the extra lift and came down." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot on August 29, 2000. According to the inspector, the pilot had recently purchased the gyrocopter, and there were no logbooks. The pilot was unaware that a gyrocopter needed to be registered and that an FAA special airworthiness certificate needed to be issued. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by "proper training and education of FAA reg[ulations]." He also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions.
pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyrocopter. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of total flight experience and familiarity with the gyrocopter.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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