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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

October 16, 2023 · Magni M24 · N90HM

Mount Sterling, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 16, 2023
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Mount Sterling, IL
Aircraft
Magni M24 (2020)
Tail Number
N90HM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN24LA013

The pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he was distracted while looking for other traffic in the pattern when he noticed that his airspeed had decayed to 37 mph, below the aircraft flight manual’s recommended traffic pattern airspeed of 65 mph. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing engine throttle but subsequently lost control. The gyroplane impacted terrain while in the left downwind leg, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor system and empennage. Postaccident examination of the gyroplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the pilot likely unloaded the rotor blades inadvertently, known as buntover, when he applied engine throttle to correct for the decaying airspeed. The sudden throttle application caused the gyroplane to abruptly pitch forward and tumble. The FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook notes that, in most cases, the proper recovery procedure for the condition is to immediately remove power and load the rotor blades.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain gyroplane control on the downwind leg, which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction.

Full Narrative

On October 16, 2023, about 1130 central daylight time, a Magni M24 gyroplane, N90HM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mount Sterling, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the gyroplane was on downwind for runway 36 at the Mount Sterling Municipal Airport (I63), when he noticed that his airspeed had decayed to 37 mph, below the recommended traffic pattern airspeed of 65 mph. He reported that his airspeed had decayed while his attention was diverted looking for other traffic. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing engine throttle but subsequently lost control. The gyroplane impacted terrain in the left downwind, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor system and empennage. During the recovery of the gyroplane, the smell of automotive fuel was present with soil discoloration around the area of the fuel cap. Postaccident examination revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was successfully operated during the examination. The rotor pitch trim actuator arm was observed to be 2 inches from the actuator, which corresponds to a pitch trim setting of about 65 mph. The gyroplane flight manual recommends an airspeed of 65 mph during the traffic pattern when preparing to land. The FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21), Section 21-3, states that, “If rotor force is rapidly removed, some gyroplanes have a tendency to pitch forward abruptly. This is often referred to as a forward tumble, buntover, or power pushover.” Referring to the recovery procedure, it notes that, “In most cases, you need to remove power and load the rotor blades.”

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 CDT
Nearest AirportMount Sterling Municpal (0nm N)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMagni M24
Tail NumberN90HM
Aircraft CategoryGyro
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 914UL · Reciprocating · 114
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 72 · Sprt · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 F / 45 F
Altimeter30.16 inHg
Observation Time11:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data