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GAA18CA114

2018-01-29 · Van Nuys, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport VNY

Current FAA registration · N767LW

Make / Model
SPORT COPTER INC SPORTCOPTER II
Year of manufacture
2016 · 2 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360 SERIES (200 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20160722
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA5C98

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s decision to takeoff in gusting wind conditions with insufficient rotor rpm.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the experimental amateur-built gyroplane, during the takeoff roll on runway 34 in gusting wind conditions, the pilot did not allow the rotor revolutions per minute (RPM) to adequately increase. He advanced the throttle and the nose pitched up. The gyroplane exited the left side of the runway and the rotor blades struck the propeller. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The METAR at the airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 17kts gusting to 22kts. Per the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported in the Safety Recommendation section that, this accident could have been prevented if he had confirmed the proper rotor RPM. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot of the experimental amateur-built gyroplane, during the takeoff roll on runway 34 in gusting wind conditions, the pilot did not allow the rotor rpm to adequately increase. He advanced the throttle and the nose pitched up. The gyroplane exited the left side of the runway and the rotor blades struck the propeller. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The METAR at the airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 17kts gusting to 22kts. The pilot reported that this accident could have been prevented if he had confirmed the proper rotor rpm. 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-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Prop/rotor parameters-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA114.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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