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WPR24LA077

2024-01-17 · Yuma, Arizona, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport NYL

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s decision to takeoff with low rotor RPM and his subsequent loss of control.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the gyroplane was preparing for takeoff, but he noticed that the brakes felt mushy and were not properly holding as he increased engine power. Consequently, when the main rotor RPM reached 150 RPM, he released the brakes and increased power. The gyroplane then rolled over onto its side. According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, takeoff with 150-200 main rotor RPM “requires a high skill,” and normal takeoffs are initiated when 220 main rotor RPM is attained. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation and acknowledged that he should have aborted the takeoff. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-(general)-(general)-Incorrect use/operation
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_WPR24LA077.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (loss of control). All research papers