Accident Overview
On July 17, 2015, at approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Celier Aviation Xenon RST gyroplane, registration N402ED, experienced a takeoff abort at Livingston Municipal Airport (00R) in Livingston, Texas. The gyroplane was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from Jennings Airport (3R7) in Jennings, Louisiana, at 1100 central daylight time.
Pilot's Account
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 21, 2015, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, approximately 1 foot above ground, he heard a grinding noise originating from the main rotor area directly above. He reduced power to idle to abort the takeoff. The gyroplane then drifted to the left side of the runway, rolled onto its left side, and impacted the ground. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries.
Aircraft Examination
The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right tail tube. Examination revealed that the main rotor blades were bent upward about 35 degrees at the ends, and the outer casing of the right tail tube was damaged. Flight control continuity was established throughout the aircraft, and no anomalies were noted. The engine was examined, started, and run on the airframe by the NTSB IIC; no anomalies were found.
Further examination of the main rotor head showed evidence of scoring on the top of the pre-rotation plate—a large diameter circular metal plate with a gear-toothed outer edge used to pre-rotate the main rotor blades for takeoff. The scoring was approximately one inch in diameter around the circumference of the plate's top. The upper housing assembly, which houses the pre-rotation drive components, also showed evidence of scoring on the upper portion of the opening where the pre-rotation plate is driven through. Additionally, the top of the upper housing assembly displayed evidence of scoring about 180 degrees in a half-circle shape.