Accident Overview
A pilot practicing takeoffs and landings in an amateur-built Pit Bull JD-3 gyrocopter experienced a hard landing that resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot, who was conducting what he described as "crow hopping" down the runway, failed to control the rate of descent during one landing sequence, causing the gyrocopter to settle hard onto the runway surface.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The gyrocopter, a Pit Bull JD-3, was amateur-built. The pilot reported having 2 hours of flight experience in a similar gyrocopter, but that experience occurred 8 months prior to the accident. Notably, the pilot did not hold a rotorcraft-gyroplane rating at the time of the incident.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's statement, he was performing a series of short takeoffs and landings—commonly referred to as "crow hopping"—when one landing went awry. During the landing flare, the pilot did not properly manage the rate of descent, causing the gyrocopter to drop abruptly onto the runway. The impact force caused the left main landing gear to collapse, and the gyrocopter subsequently tipped onto its left side.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage of the gyrocopter. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft prior to or during the flight, indicating that the hard landing was not caused by a mechanical failure.
Investigation Findings
The investigation noted the pilot's lack of recent experience in gyrocopters and the absence of a proper rating for rotorcraft-gyroplane operations. However, the official source does not provide a specific probable cause for the accident.