What happened
On July 1, 2015, a private AutoGyro MT-03 gyroplane was participating in an international historical military vehicle rally in Darłowo, Poland. The flight originated in Neubrandenburg, Germany, with a refueling stop in Anklam, Poland. The final leg of the flight proceeded along the Baltic coast for approximately 90 minutes. The pilot did not establish contact with Polish Air Traffic Services, instead maintaining passive radio monitoring of nearby aerodrome frequencies.
Upon arriving in Darłoma, the pilot performed approximately five circuits over the rally site before selecting a landing site on a flat clearing, situated away from crowds and obstacles. As the pilot touched down, they observed numerous large depressions in the terrain that made a stable landing impossible. To avoid the uneven ground, the pilot attempted a "touch-and-go" maneuver to proceed to Bagicz/Kołobrzeg Airport (EPKG).
During the subsequent takeoff roll, the pilot identified a fence mesh approximately 60 meters from the start of the roll, standing about 160 cm high. In an attempt to avoid the obstacle, the pilot abruptly pitched the fuselage upward. This maneuver caused the tail boom and rotor blades to strike the ground. The aircraft subsequently struck the fence at a speed of approximately 15–20 km/h before falling onto its left side.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation team examined the accident site and inspected the damage to the aircraft. The investigators also interviewed the pilot and other individuals present at the rally to reconstruct the sequence of events. The pilot reported that the aircraft was in good technical condition with no known mechanical defects prior to the accident.