What happened
On July 21, 2018, an Auto Gyro GmbH MTO Sport gyrocopter, registration LN-YUR, was traveling from Lakselv, Norway, toward Steigen, Norway. After an intermediate stop in Kautokeino to refuel, the pilot elected to fly a direct route through Finland to reach the next planned refueling stop in Salangen.
As the aircraft approached the Kilpisjärvi area, it encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by Cumulonimbus clouds. Rather than returning to safety or landing in low-lying terrain, the pilot altered course, which required ascending over mountainous terrain. During this maneuver, the aircraft encountered heavy turbulence and strong wind gusts. The aircraft lost airspeed and directional control, entering a rotation that caused it to drift off the mountain plateau and crash into a rocky area. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, while the passenger, who was seated in the rear, suffered minor injuries and was able to use a mobile phone to call for help.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the flight planning, the aircraft's performance, and the pilot's experience. The investigation established that the aircraft was significantly overweight, exceeding its maximum operational limit by approximately 50 kg. This weight limitation also meant that essential emergency equipment, such as an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) or personal locator beacons, was not carried.
Investigators also found that the pilot had very limited flying experience, with only 50 minutes of flight time recorded for the current year. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the pilot's passenger check-out had been improperly documented, with an instructor signing off on the authorization without the required theoretical exam or proper procedures being completed. Additionally, the aircraft's transponder was turned off after departing Kautokeino, making the flight invisible to air traffic services, and no flight plan had been filed for the international crossing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of airspeed and directional control caused by the interaction of turbulence and wind gusts with the aircraft's performance.
- The pilot's decision to fly through mountainous terrain in marginal weather and the failure to divert or land when conditions worsened contributed to the accident.
- The aircraft was operating significantly above its maximum weight limit.
- The pilot's limited flight experience and inadequate flight planning were critical contributing factors.
- The lack of a flight plan, the deactivated transponder, and the absence of emergency signaling equipment hindered search and rescue efforts.