What happened
On 11 November 2018, a pilot and a passenger were preparing for a private flight from Paradise Beach Airfield in the Eastern Cape to a private airstrip in Patens/ensie. As the pilot began the takeoff roll in the ELA-08 gyrocopter, registration ZU-EMI, the main rotor was pre-rotated to 200 RPM. Approximately 30 meters into the takeoff run, a sudden gust of wind triggered a low-speed flapping of the main rotor blades. This movement caused the control stick to shake violently, and before the pilot could stabilize the aircraft, the main rotor blades struck the propeller and the tail section. The pilot immediately shut down the engine and vacated the runway. There were no injuries during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation into the incident at Paradise Beach Airfield examined the meteorological conditions and the aircraft's operational limits. At the time of the occurrence, the pilot reported a wind of 180 degrees at 20 knots. Calculations based on this report indicated a crosswind component of 19.7 knots and a tailwind component of 3.47 knots. While the manufacturer's documentation (the ELA 07-07S POH) allows for operations in winds up to 40 knots gusting, the maximum allowable crosswind for takeoff is limited to 16 knots.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the main rotor, propeller, rudder, and tail section.
- The actual crosswind component of 19.7 knots exceeded the 16-knot limit specified in the pilot's operating handbook.
- The manufacturer noted that rotor strikes involving the propeller and tail during takeoff are typically associated with high winds and low rotor RPM.