Accident Overview
On 25 August 2016, a Tango 2 gyrocopter, registered RA-0542A, was involved in an accident at Popham Airfield, Hampshire. The aircraft was participating in the FAI World Paramotor and Microlight Championship in the Autogyro Tandem class. The flight was private, with two crew members on board and no passengers. The pilot, aged 47, held 450 hours of flying experience, including 35 hours on type, with 60 hours in the last 90 days and 25 hours in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
The pilot lost control of the gyrocopter during takeoff. Video footage captured the gyrocopter rotating steeply, with the rotor blade striking the ground behind the aircraft. The gyrocopter then rolled to the left before coming to a stop on its side. The crew were unharmed.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the rotor, propeller, and the left side of the open canopy.
Aircraft Information
The gyrocopter was a Tango 2, registration RA-0542A, with a single Yamaha Genesis engine. It was manufactured in 2016.
Investigation
The source of information for this event was an Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot and a video clip. No probable cause has been stated in the report.
Corrections
An initial error in the report header regarding persons on board was corrected in the online version published on 11 May 2017. The corrected information confirms two crew members and no passengers.