What happened
On October 15, 2016, at approximately 15:16 local time, a pilot prepared for a flight from the Plecewice landing site. After successfully starting and warming up the engine of the Calidus 912, the pilot commenced the takeoff roll. During the acceleration phase, the pilot discovered that the nose wheel steering was locked, with the wheel fixed in a slightly left-turned position.
This steering malfunction caused the aircraft to veer in an arc toward the airfield perimeter fence. The pilot attempted to correct the course by applying maximum right rudder pedal, but the steering remained unresponsive. In an effort to avoid colliding with the fence, the pilot applied heavy braking while simultaneously reducing the throttle to idle. During this final braking phase, aerodynamic and centrifugal forces caused the gyrocopter to capsize onto its right side.
The investigation
The investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's pre-flight procedures. It was established that the pilot held all necessary flight crew licenses, radio operator certificates, and valid medical certification, with a total of 99.5 flight hours, including 44.5 hours as pilot-in-command. The investigation also assessed the damage to the aircraft, which included the mast, rotor blades, propeller, and vertical stabilizer. The aircraft was subsequently repaired by the manufacturer in Germany and returned to service.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the bending of the nose wheel fork's cross-lever, which prevented the nose wheel from steering.
- This mechanical failure may have been caused by a previous hard landing involving a traverse.
- The pilot did not perform a pre-flight inspection on the day of the accident.