What happened
On May 24, 2021, an amateur-built Delta gyrocopter, registration SP-XMUR, was operating near the Gotartowice airfield (EPRG) in Rybnik. During an initial flight, the pilot experienced vibrations within the flight control system. Following the flight, the pilot disassembled the rotor to adjust the rotor blades.
After completing the adjustments, the pilot took off again to verify the effectiveness of the maintenance. While the pilot noted that the vibrations had decreased, a new issue emerged during the approach to landing. On the landing straight, the pilot observed a reduction in engine thrust, necessitating an emergency landing in a grove of trees adjacent to the airfield. The pilot sustained no injuries, though the aircraft suffered significant damage.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation confirmed that the pilot was flying with a valid ultralight gyrocopter pilot certificate (UAG(L)) and that blood alcohol tests showed a result of 0.00 mg/l. However, the investigation established that the aircraft was not covered by the mandatory third-party liability insurance at the time of the occurrence.