The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N5606X
Location: Ravenna, MI
Accident Number: CEN15LA235
Date & Time: 05/01/2015, 1225 CDT
Registration: N5606X
Aircraft: LATHROP STEVEN A B8M
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On May 1, 2015, about 1225 central daylight time, a homebuilt gyrocopter, N5606X, registered to the pilot/owner, was destroyed when it collided with power lines after a loss of engine power while maneuvering in the vicinity of Ravenna, Michigan. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Riverview, Michigan, about 1125.
One witness reported that she heard a loud noise of a plane flying north. She further stated that she heard a loud booming sound and she looked up and saw black smoke. Another witness reported that he received a call from the pilot stating that he would be doing a slow fly-by in the area, about noon. The witness stated that he was outside several minutes after noon and that he heard the gyrocopter flying toward his home, looked up to the southeast, and saw the aircraft gliding toward the ground.
The FAA inspector who examined the accident site and wreckage, reported that the wreckage was resting in a deep ditch on the north side of Sherman Road near the intersection of Wunsch Road in Moorland Township near Ravenna, MI. Evidence at the accident site showed that the gyrocopter had impacted 30-foot high power lines, consequently breaking two of the lines. A power line pole on the north side of Sherman Road was broken and unattached to its base. The pilot's headgear showed thermal damage to the face shield and soot was evident inside of the shield and around the face relief of the helmet, consistent with electrical arcing. The helmet was found in a ditch just west of Wunsch Road about 40 feet from the wreckage.
The gyrocopter's rotor mast was broken off, about seat height. The rotor blades were coned upward consistent with low RPM and high loading. The trailing edges of the blades exhibited buckling between fasteners. One rotor blade had scuff marks on the bottom side. The other blade had buckling failure in the aft direction. One of the propeller blades of the pusher propeller was separated and was found about 50 yards beyond the wreckage. The broken blade leading edge exhibited leading edge marks consistent with contact with the broken power line wires.
The Volkswagen engine appeared to be mostly intact. The crank would rotate by hand, but was limited due to adjacent impact damage. Automotive gasoline was present in the fuel filter and some gas was dripping out of the carburetor when first responders arrived. The broken ends of the power lines showed some broom straw signatures, some cut failures, and some right angle bending near the wire failures. The wires consisted of five aluminum wires wrapped about a steel core.
The pilot stated on NTSB Form 6120 that as he slowed the engine to lower his altitude, he "got carb ice killing the engine [and] ran out of a place to land." The nearest weather reporting facility, located about 12 miles to the west of the accident site, reported a temperature of 16 degrees C and dew point of 4 degrees C, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the aircraft would have been operating in conditions for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Center
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Gyroplane
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/02/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 100 hours (Total, this make and model), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: LATHROP STEVEN A
Registration: N5606X
Model/Series: B8M NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Gyroplane
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 2
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/10/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 3 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 400 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Volkswagon
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 65 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MKG, 628 ft msl
Observation Time: 1255 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 4°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots, 340°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.15 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Riverview, MI
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Ravenna, MI (MKG)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1125 CDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Muskegon County Airport (MKG)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 628 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Vegetation
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 43.209167, 85.964722 (est)
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