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GAA19CA359

2019-06-18 · Nephi, Utah, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport U14

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's insufficient rudder input during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The gyroplane pilot reported that, during takeoff, he rotated around 55 knots and the gyroplane instantly yawed to the left about 45°. The pilot reported that he was "behind the power curve" and could not climb or gain airspeed. The gyroplane began to descend, the pilot turned left, and the gyroplane landed hard and rolled to the right side. The pilot added that, during the initial climb yaw, he believed it was because of the "P-factor due to [a newly installed] more powerful engine" and that he failed to add right rudder input to correct. He added that it was his first test flight with the new engine. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he rotated around 55 knots and that the gyroplane instantly yawed left about 45°. The pilot reported that he was "behind the power curve" and that the gyroplane could not climb or gain airspeed. The gyroplane began to descend, the pilot turned left, and the gyroplane landed hard and rolled to the right side. The pilot added that he believed that the gyroplane initially yawed left during the climb because of the "P-factor due to [a newly installed] more powerful engine" and that he failed to add right rudder input to correct. He added that it was his first test flight with the new engine. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Rudder control system-Not used/operated - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Yaw control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA359.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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