What happened
On November 21, 2002, a Sycamore MK 2000 gyroplane, registered ZU-CNW, was involved in an accident during a private flight at FAPE. Shortly after departing the runway, the pilot encountered a sudden and complete loss of aircraft control. Despite the instability, the pilot managed to execute a landing back on runway 08. However, the impact of the landing was severe, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. There were no injuries reported for the two occupants on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft following its recovery. The maintenance company responsible for the recovery confirmed that the flight controls were properly connected and found no visible mechanical defects or obvious malfunctions. The investigation also reviewed the regulatory status of the aircraft, noting that the Authority To Fly had expired on November 18, 2002, three days before the occurrence.
Findings
Analysis of the event focused on aerodynamic factors and training procedures. The pilot suggested that the loss of control was triggered by high-speed blade flap. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot's solo check and consolidation flights had been conducted by the same instructor, for whom the CAA had granted special permission to perform the solo check. The pilot expressed the belief that a different instructor might have prevented the incident.