2020 MTO Sport Gyroplane Accident Near Whitewater, Kansas (N455WM)

Accident Overview and Flight History On November 3, 2020, at approximately 1341 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built MTO Sport gyroplane, N455WM, was destroyed in an accident near Whitewater, Kansas. The aircraft was operating as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The gyroplane departed from McMaster Gliderport (29KS), located about 5 miles northeast of Wichita, Kansas. A witness approximately 5.8 miles from the accident site reported seeing a small green helicopter-type aircraft flying southeast. The witness stated the engine sounded normal and the aircraft appeared to be flying above the tree line at about 300 feet above ground level. The witness did not observe the accident sequence. A local landowner later observed smoke from a field and notified authorities. No witnesses were present at the time of the accident. ## Personnel and Aircraft Information The pilot, who owned the aircraft, held a sport endorsement for gyroplanes. Logbook pages provided by the family indicated the pilot had approximately 44 total hours in gyroplanes, including 27.5 hours in the accident aircraft. The pilot had completed the requirements for operation under BasicMed in December 2019. The gyroplane featured a nose gear wheel chassis, a two-seat tandem configuration, and an extruded aluminum rotor. The rotor head was controlled with connecting rods, and the rudder was controlled with cables and push-pull cables. An FAA aviation safety inspector reported that the gyroplane was equipped with standard flight gauges and no devices containing nonvolatile memory. ## Wreckage and Impact Information The gyroplane came to rest in a grass field at an elevation of about 1,630 feet mean sea level, on a southerly heading in a nose-down attitude. The forward fuselage was buried approximately 2 feet below the field surface, and the airframe was heavily consumed by postcrash fire. All major pieces of the gyroplane were located at the accident site. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Additional and Medical Information Review of the pilot’s logbook showed that during previous flights in the months before the accident, the pilot had reported “hog hunt,” recon of fields, and “off-airport.” Local law enforcement pictures revealed that three pistols were found at the accident site with the wreckage. The pilot’s truck was located at 29KS, with about 10 gallons of additional fuel in gas cans in the trailer. An autopsy performed by the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center in Wichita, Kansas, determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was ruled an accident. FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory toxicology testing on the pilot detected ethanol and drugs of abuse were not detected. Meloxicam and atorvastatin were detected and were reported on the pilot’s most recent medical exam in 2017 and are acceptable for pilots. Diphenhydramine, a non-prescription antihistamine that can cause sedation, and acetaminophen were also detected.