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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 15, 1991 · Benson/Ambrocini/Wentzel B-8MJ · N8241

Turlock, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 15, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Turlock, CA
Aircraft
Benson/Ambrocini/Wentzel B-8MJ
Tail Number
N8241
Operator
Wentzel Alfred S
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91LA359

The non helicopter rated pilot was using an unapproved takeoff and landing area between hangers on the airport. Numerous maintenance and certification irregularities were found. The gyrocopter had not had an annually required condition inspection since 1986. Numerous ground witnesses reported that after the pilot completed the modifications, he made one aborted attempt to takeoff. The pilot was next seen to taxi the gyrocopter back to his hangar where he made some minor adjustments to the rotor system. The pilot then taxied the aircraft back to the original takeoff spot, spun up the rotor system and initiated another takeoff. The witnesses saw the machine lift off in a steeper than normal nose high attitude, then the rotor blades began to wave erratically 'like spaghetti.' The gyrocopter hit the ground on its wheels and rolled into a pickup truck. The gyrocopter was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector familiar with the machines. He reported that he found no identifiable preimpact malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S OVER ROTATION OF THE GYROCOPTER DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE POOR MAINTENANCE PRACTICES PERFORMED ON THE MACHINE.

Full Narrative

THE NON HELICOPTER RATED PILOT WAS USING AN UNAPPROVED TAKEOFF AND LANDING AREA BETWEEN HANGERS ON THE AIRPORT. NUMEROUS MAINTENANCE AND CERTIFICATION IRREGULARITIES WERE FOUND. THE GYROCOPTER HAD NOT HAD AN ANNUALLY REQUIRED CONDITION INSPECTION SINCE 1986. NUMEROUS GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER THE PILOT COMPLETED THE MODIFICATIONS, HE MADE ONE ABORTED ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS NEXT SEEN TO TAXI THE GYROCOPTER BACK TO HIS HANGAR WHERE HE MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PILOT THEN TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TAKEOFF SPOT, SPUN UP THE ROTOR SYSTEM AND INITIATED ANOTHER TAKEOFF. THE WITNESSES SAW THE MACHINE LIFT OFF IN A STEEPER THAN NORMAL NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN THE ROTOR BLADES BEGAN TO WAVE ERRATICALLY 'LIKE SPAGHETTI.' THE GYROCOPTER HIT THE GROUND ON ITS WHEELS AND ROLLED INTO A PICKUP TRUCK. THE GYROCOPTER WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FAMILIAR WITH THE MACHINES. HE REPORTED THAT HE FOUND NO IDENTIFIABLE PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:20 PDT
Nearest AirportTURLOCK (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBenson/Ambrocini/Wentzel B-8MJ
Tail NumberN8241
Aircraft CategoryGyro
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWentzel Alfred S
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsMcculloch · 4318A · Reciprocating · 71
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 79 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data