Overview
On 17 December 2020, a Calidus gyrocopter registered V5-ULT in Namibia was involved in an accident near Windhoek. The aircraft, owned by Pierre Wilhelm Blaauw, was on a recreational flight from Eros Airport to Heja Lodge and back. It struck power lines and crashed onto a road, bursting into flames. The pilot sustained serious injuries and later succumbed to those injuries early the next morning. The passenger sustained fatal injuries. The accident occurred at approximately 14:12 local time (12:12 UTC) at coordinates 22°33'42"S 17°11'29"E, on the road from the city centre to Hosea Kutako International Airport, about 15 km outbound.
Flight History
The gyrocopter departed Eros Airport around 14:02 local time. Air traffic control cleared the flight for an altitude of 7,000 feet. The aircraft struck power lines estimated at 20–30 feet above ground, well below the cleared altitude, then crashed onto the road and caught fire. The fire consumed the wreckage before firefighters arrived approximately 30 minutes later. No distress call was received from the gyrocopter.
Personnel Information
The pilot, a 40-year-old Namibian national, held a gyroplane license that was invalidated due to non-renewal of his medical certificate and failure to maintain proficiency. His last medical assessment on 23 June 2020 declared him medically unfit.
Aircraft Information
The gyrocopter, an Auto-Gyro Germany Calidus with a Rotax engine, held a valid Special Certificate of Airworthiness (Authority to Fly) with permit number SFPM-039-2020, valid until 23 June 2021. The last annual inspection was certified on 6 August 2020, and the gyrocopter had flown an additional 2 hours since that inspection. An engine teardown on 18 December 2020 revealed no mechanical defects.
On-Site Examination
Investigators determined that the gyrocopter struck power lines approximately 20–30 feet above ground. The wreckage was removed and transported to a safe location at Eros Airport for further analysis.
Findings
The investigation identified that the pilot did not possess a valid medical certificate, rendering his license invalid. The gyrocopter itself had a valid airworthiness certificate and no mechanical defects were found in the engine.