18 Nov 2016: PITCAIRN PA 18 NO SERIES

18 Nov 2016: PITCAIRN PA 18 NO SERIES — Unknown operator

No fatalities • Philadelphia, PA, United States

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to correct the gyroplane’s right roll during the landing, which resulted in the exceedance of its critical angle and a subsequent roll-over. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s focus on preventing a potential ground loop instead of a roll-over and his lack of experience in the gyroplane model.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped gyroplane, he landed on the right main landing gear. The gyroplane begin rolling to the right, but the gyroplane's heading was aligned to the left of the runway heading and continued in a left direction of travel. He attempted to correct the gyroplane's right roll by moving the control stick to the left, however, the aileron movement did not subside the roll. He reported that in hindsight, opening the throttle and right rudder application may have subsided the roll, "but my mental preparedness was biased to preventing a ground loop, not a dynamic rollover". However, the gyroplane continued to roll right and impacted the ground. The gyroplane came to rest on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, right wing, and the empennage.

The pilot reported that his lack of experience in the gyroplane model contributed to the accident, because the critical angle was exceeded in this gyroplane more quickly than other gyroplanes that he was accustomed to flying.

The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • cause Lateral/bank control — Not attained/maintained
  • factor Pilot
  • factor Pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, vis 10sm

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