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GAA17CA184

2017-03-10 · Santa Maria, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SMX

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain crosswind correction during landing in crosswind conditions.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during a stop-and-go landing in crosswind conditions, the gyroplane bounced about 4 ft. He added that the wind lifted the gyroplane and he did not have "the speed or rudder control to counteract" the drift. The gyroplane impacted the ground on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that about 39 minutes before the accident the wind was 300° at 8 knots. The gyroplane landed on runway 30. The student pilot reported that, during a stop-and-go landing in crosswind conditions, the gyroplane bounced about 4 ft. He added that the wind lifted the gyroplane and that he did not have "the speed or rudder control to counteract" the drift. The gyroplane impacted the ground on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 39 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 300° at 8 knots. The gyroplane landed on runway 30. 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-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Crosswind correction-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA184.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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