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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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August 20, 1982 · Air & Space 18A · N6140S

Orlando, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 20, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Orlando, FL
Aircraft
Air & Space 18A
Tail Number
N6140S
Operator
Rodney D Johnson
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA82DA173

DURING TAKEOFF, THE GYROCOPTER LIFTED OFF TO ONLY ABOUT 3 FT, INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 10 TO 15 FT. IT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTERED A GROUND RESONANT CONDITION. THE PILOT STATED THAT ONCE THE WHEELS WERE CARRYING THE WEIGHT, THE BLADES WOULD UNLOAD, THEN THEY WOULD "PITCH HIGH" AND SLOW DOWN. REPORTEDLY, WHEN THIS CONDITION WAS COUPLED WITH THE FAST FORWARD VELOCITY, A RESONANT VIBRATION OCCURRED. THE CONDITION BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE LEFT GEAR FAILED AND THE GYROCOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF HE HAD ABORTED THE TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY.

Full Narrative

DURING TAKEOFF, THE GYROCOPTER LIFTED OFF TO ONLY ABOUT 3 FT, INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 10 TO 15 FT. IT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTERED A GROUND RESONANT CONDITION. THE PILOT STATED THAT ONCE THE WHEELS WERE CARRYING THE WEIGHT, THE BLADES WOULD UNLOAD, THEN THEY WOULD "PITCH HIGH" AND SLOW DOWN. REPORTEDLY, WHEN THIS CONDITION WAS COUPLED WITH THE FAST FORWARD VELOCITY, A RESONANT VIBRATION OCCURRED. THE CONDITION BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE LEFT GEAR FAILED AND THE GYROCOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF HE HAD ABORTED THE TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 EDT
Nearest AirportOrlando Executive (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length4620 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir & Space 18A
Tail NumberN6140S
Aircraft CategoryGyro
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRodney D Johnson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 38 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time08:54

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Appendix: Source Data