What happened
On the morning of 23 October 2002, a Sycamore Mk1 gyrocopter, registration ZU-CTR, was performing a solo training flight departing from Nylstroom Aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft's engine experienced a failure while the gyrocopter was at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above the ground.
In an attempt to perform a forced landing back onto the runway, the pilot struggled to maintain airspeed as it decayed rapidly. During the final meters of the descent, the rotor RPM dropped significantly, causing the aircraft to lose lift and strike the ground with high impact. While the pilot escaped without injury, the aircraft sustained severe damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent loss of rotor RPM. The investigation noted that the aircraft was a newly manufactured unit with a valid Authority to Fly. However, the inquiry found that the aircraft had not undergone any approving flights based on a Certificate of Conformity, and there was no available evidence regarding the aircraft type approval.
Regarding the regulatory environment, the investigation confirmed that the manufacturing organization held a valid approval, the Approved Person responsible for certifying inspections was appropriately authorized, and the training organization maintained valid accreditation at the time of the event.
Findings
- The primary factor in the hard landing was the failure to establish the gyrocopter in an autorotation following the engine failure.
- The decay of rotor RPM was a critical element that led to the loss of flight capability during the final moments of the landing.
- The specific cause of the engine failure could not be determined from the available evidence.
- The pilot's level of experience and potential fatigue were identified as possible contributing factors to the accident.