What happened
On 22 September 2006, a RAF 2000 GTX SE FI gyro-copter, registered ZU-DYP, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Upington Aerodrome. The flight was being conducted by a student pilot performing their very first solo mission following a training session with an instructor that included ten circuits and landings.
During the solo circuit, the student pilot took off normally from Runway 08. However, as the aircraft approached the runway for landing, the pilot flared the aircraft too high. This maneuver caused the gyro-copter to bounce upon contact with the runway surface. In the ensuing moment, the student pilot pushed the joystick fully forward rather than pulling back to maintain control. This incorrect input caused the aircraft to pitch forward aggressively, leading the rotor blades to strike the ground and resulting in the aircraft rolling onto its right side.
The investigation
The investigation established that the weather conditions at the time were fine, with a temperature of 16.4°C and a light northeast wind of 5 knots. The instructor, who observed the solo flight from the control tower, provided testimony regarding the sequence of the landing and the subsequent pilot error.
Records indicated that the aircraft had undergone its last annual inspection on 9 August 2006, at 62.7 airframe hours. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had flown an additional 36.3 hours since that inspection. The maintenance was certified by an authorized person rated by the South African Gyroplane Association.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student pilot's incorrect control input following a bounce on the runway.
- The pilot flared the aircraft too high during the landing approach, which induced a bounce.
- Instead of applying back-pressure on the joystick to stabilize the aircraft, the pilot pushed the stick forward, causing the nose to pitch down.
- The impact of the rotor blades with the runway surface led to the aircraft rolling over.