The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N317KD
Location: Point Venture, TX
Accident Number: CEN18LA079
Date & Time: 01/13/2018, 1200 CST
Registration: N317KD
Aircraft: DAYTON A DABBS MAGNI M-16
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The private pilot reported that, during a flight in an experimental gyroplane, he decreased altitude by reducing power to fly over the shoreline of a lake. When the gyroplane was at an altitude of 50 ft above ground level, the pilot applied power to gain altitude, but the engine did not respond. The pilot stated that the gyroplane entered a stall and impacted the ground. The pilot noted that that he did not have time to regain airspeed due to the low altitude. The pilot also noted that he should have been operating at a higher altitude, which would have allowed him to land safely by maintaining airspeed with the nose of the gyroplane down.
A postaccident engine test run was performed, and the engine started and ran without any issues detected. The collected data from the gyroplane's engine monitor showed that, for the accident flight, the engine rpm dropped from about 5,000 to 1,000 rpm before the end of the data. Besides rpm, the collected data contained only the following parameters: exhaust gas temperatures for each cylinder, water temperature, oil temperature, and atmospheric pressure. The temperature and dew point recorded at a nearby airport were not in the range of susceptibility for carburetor icing. Due to the lack of additional engine monitor data and the successful postaccident engine test run, the reason(s) for the total loss of engine power could not be determined. In addition, the pilot's decision to conduct the flight at a low altitude precluded remedial action after the total loss of engine power and the subsequent stall.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident engine test run showed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the pilot's decision to conduct the flight at a low altitude.
Findings
Aircraft
Altitude - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Personnel issues
Decision making/judgment - Pilot (Cause)
Not determined
Not determined - Unknown/Not determined (Cause)
Factual Information
On January 13, 2018, about 1200 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Magni M-16 gyroplane, N317KD, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power while maneuvering near Point Venture, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. The gyroplane's tail boom, rotor mast support, landing gear, and fuselage sustained damage during the forced landing. The aircraft was registered to Off The Ground, LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Taylor Municipal Airport (T74), Taylor, Texas about 0900.
The pilot reported that flight was a pleasure flight around a nearby lake with an intended return to the departure airport. He stated that he decreased altitude to fly over the shoreline by reducing power. Upon reaching 50 feet agl., he applied power to gain altitude, but the engine did not respond. He said that the gyroplane went into a stall and impacted the ground. In his report, the pilot noted that he should have maintained a higher altitude which would have allowed him to land safely by maintaining airspeed with the nose of the gyroplane down. He noted that he did not have time to regain airspeed due to the low altitude.
The gyroplane was examined after the accident by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. During the examination, an engine test run was performed and the engine started and ran without any issues detected. The gyroplane's engine monitor was downloaded and the data for the accident flight showed that the engine rpm dropped from about 5,000 rpm to 1,000 rpm prior to the end of the collected data. The collected data contained only the following parameters: exhaust gas temperatures for each cylinder, water temperature, oil temperature, atmospheric pressure and rpm.
The temperature and dew point recorded at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, about 20 nautical miles southeast of the accident site were 7 degrees Celsius, and -7 degrees Celsius respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart contained in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35, entitled "Carburetor Icing Prevention", the recorded temperature and dew point were not in the range of susceptibility for carburetor icing.
History of Flight
Maneuvering
Loss of engine power (total) (Defining event)
Landing
Hard landing
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private; Sport Pilot
Age: 66, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/18/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/18/2017
Flight Time: 382 hours (Total, all aircraft), 45 hours (Total, this make and model), 382 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: DAYTON A DABBS
Registration: N317KD
Model/Series: MAGNI M-16 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Gyroplane
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 16169634
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/20/2017, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1212 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 12 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 832 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 914
Registered Owner: OFF THE GROUND LLC
Rated Power: 115 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: AUS, 542 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1153 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 125°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 25000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 30°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.61 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 7°C / -7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: TAYLOR, TX (T74)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: TAYLOR, TX (T74)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0900 CST
Type of Airspace: Class E
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.380000, -98.011111
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