What happened
On 16 December 2002, a Sycamore Mk1 gyrocopter, registration ZU-PJC, was performing a private flight near Scottburgh. The aircraft was on its final approach for landing at its intended destination when the pilot attempted to increase airspeed by pushing the nose of the aircraft downward. This maneuver led to a heavy touchdown on the nose landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters and the mechanical state of the aircraft following the impact. It was established that the pilot held a valid license and the necessary type endorsement, along with a current medical certificate. Records indicated that the aircraft had been properly maintained, having completed only 33.4 hours of flight time since its last annual inspection. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were reported as having good visibility, light north-east winds, and a temperature of 24ºC.
Findings
Analysis of the impact revealed that the nose landing gear collapsed due to the force of the landing. This structural failure subsequently caused the mounting bolts for the left main landing gear to shear. While there were 0 fatalities and no injuries to the pilot, the aircraft suffered substantial damage.