Skip to content

WPR25LA005

2024-10-07 · Chico, California, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KCIC

Current FAA registration · N726CA

Make / Model
ROTORSPORT UK LTD CAVALON
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A9BA09

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent descent and subsequent collision with trees.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the gyroplane reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude over his property, he pulled back on the control stick to slow down and observe the area. He then noticed that he inadvertently allowed the airspeed to decay to zero, and the gyroplane was descending. In an attempt to recover, he applied full engine power and pitched forward to reestablish airspeed. However, the gyroplane was at too low of an altitude to recover from the descent. The gyroplane struck a tree and fell to the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage. 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.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Ability to respond/compensate
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Effect on equipment

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_WPR25LA005.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.