GAA17CA092

Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped gyroplane, he landed on the right main landing gear. The gyroplane begin rolling to the right, but the gyroplane's heading was aligned to the left of the runway heading and continued in a left direction of travel. He attempted to correct the gyroplane's right roll by moving the control stick to the left, however, the aileron movement did not subside the roll. He reported that in hindsight, opening the throttle and right rudder application may have subsided the roll, "but my mental preparedness was biased to preventing a ground loop, not a dynamic rollover". However, the gyroplane continued to roll right and impacted the ground. The gyroplane came to rest on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, right wing, and the empennage. The pilot reported that his lack of experience in the gyroplane model contributed to the accident, because the critical angle was exceeded in this gyroplane more quickly than other gyroplanes that he was accustomed to flying. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped gyroplane, he landed on the right main landing gear. The gyroplane began rolling to the right, but the gyroplane's heading was aligned to the left of the runway heading and continued in a left direction of travel. He attempted to correct the gyroplane's right roll by moving the control stick to the left; however, the aileron movement did not subside the roll. He reported that in hindsight, opening the throttle and applying right rudder may have subsided the roll, "but my mental preparedness was biased to preventing a ground loop, not a dynamic rollover." The gyroplane continued to roll right and impacted the ground. The gyroplane came to rest on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, right wing, and the empennage. The pilot reported that his lack of experience in the gyroplane model contributed to the accident because the critical angle was exceeded in this gyroplane more quickly than in other gyroplanes that he was accustomed to flying. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
• F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Recent experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F
• F Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot - F