Gyro down in Northern Calif.

[gyroplanes]

I just received a call from a customer about a gyro crash near Marysville, CA.
I Google searched this report. Sounds like a PPO, according to the eyewitness account. Anyone have any more detail?

Condolences to the friends and family of the victim.

April 29, 2007 - 11:47PM


The pilot of an experimental aircraft died in a crash along southbound Highway 70 that shut down highway traffic near Olivehurst for three hours Sunday afternoon.

Stanley McDonald Jr., 52, of Fresno, was flying an autogyro east toward the highway about noon when his aircraft apparently began experiencing mechanical difficulties. He he lost control – missing the highway by just inches when he crashed, authorities and witnesses said.

McDonald was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident closed southbound Highway 70 and Chestnut Street in Olivehurst until about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

McDonald was in Yuba County to visit a friend, said Yuba County Sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Million. An eyewitness saw the pilot heading east toward the highway when trouble began.

“He was doing some basic maneuvers over Ostrom Road and I was standing right underneath him watching,” said Robert Fritz, a Yuba County resident who lives west of the highway. “The wind changed direction and the propeller caught the tail. There was a little explosion and that sent debris out.”

Fritz said he saw the aircraft “go into a spin,” and could see McDonald fighting to control his aircraft. The pilot missed a field and several power lines and headed toward Chestnut Street and Highway 70, which run parallel to each other.

“I saw him drop down, hit the tree and hit down as hard as you could imagine,” Fritz said. “My friend and I ran over there, and I jumped the fence and checked his pulse, but he didn’t have one.”

Fritz tried calling 911 but said the lines were jammed, probably because several people were trying to call at the same time.

Debris from the yellowish-tan craft was visible in a field and ditch east of the highway to where the plane hit the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.

An autogyro is similar to a helicopter but the rotor is not powered by an engine.

I also found this:

N-number : N31247
Aircraft Serial Number : BHG-1
Aircraft Manufacturer : HVASS
Model : BENSEN B8 GYROGLIDER
Engine Manufacturer : MCCULLOCH
Model : 4318A&E/0-100
Aircraft Year : 1976
Owner Name : MCDONALD STANLEY J
Owner Address : 6336 N DEL MAR
FRESNO, CA, 93704
Type of Owner : Individual
Registration Date : 22-Aug-1985
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Experimental
Approved Operations : Amateur Built


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check for printing
N-number : N445SM
Aircraft Serial Number : 1394-2
Aircraft Manufacturer : MCDONALD STANLEY J
Model : J4B-2
Engine Manufacturer : SUBARU
Model : ALL MDLS A/B
Aircraft Year :
Owner Name : MCDONALD STANLEY J
Owner Address : 1312 E PLYMOUTH WAY
FRESNO, CA, 93720-1319
Type of Owner : Individual
Registration Date : 03-Jan-2006
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Experimental
Approved Operations : Amateur Built

[barnstorm2]

Very Sad,

My condolences.

Yes, the witness made a perfect description of a bunt / PPO.

Wind change, Tail chop off, 'spin'.



.

[gyroplanes]

The FAA report just came out. It was the Barnett gyro.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 445SM Make/Model: EXP Description: J4B-2 EXP
Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 1900

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
City: MARYSVILLE State: CA Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED ONTO A HIGHWAY UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE PERSON
ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, MARYSVILLE, CA

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: METAR MYV 291853Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM CLR 26/07 A2996

OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER

Departed: Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: Flt Plan: Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont:
Last Clearance:

FAA FSDO: SACRAMENTO, CA (WP25) Entry date: 04/30/2007

[barnstorm2]

Something like this I guess.

(Attached)

Is that a stab or a rock guard?

[Brent_Brown]

It is a stab it far back to be a rock guard.

[Vance]

I believe that I met Mr. McDonald at the Marysville Fly In a few years ago.

His aircraft was very nicely constructed and well maintained.

He was very nice and shared a lot of his knowledge about gyroplanes with me.

He had spent a lot of time with Mr. Barnett in the build process.

I asked him about thrust line offset and he felt confident that it was not an issue with his aircraft.

It had a large articulated tall rudder and a horizontal stabilizer.

He described the flight as very stable and controllable.

Much more stable than his Bensen.

He was just starting to fly it at the time.

He was justifiably proud of his machine.

Indeed, very sad.

Thank you, Vance

[Doug Riley]

Unless someone knowledgeable about gyros inspects the wreckage, we will not know what happened. The layperson witness reports are, as usual, vague, conclusory and unreliable.

Various things, including but not limited to PPO, can cause a rotor-prop-tail collision. I spoke to one Barnett pilot awhile ago who had two of the four mast tubes break in flight. He was very lucky to get down alive. A rigid, triangulated mast is a poor design decision when using a semi-rigid rotor.

[j4flyer]

Guys, this is a sad event as Stan was a good guy. I met him at the Golden State event where he was displaying his gyro. It was a J4B-2. It had a tall tail and stab. In speaking with Stan the lessons he had were from YEARS ago with Marion. He had some Bensen time but how much, I don't know. He said he had several hours in the J4b-2. I doubt that statement as the ship didn't appear to have flown. A guy at Marysville said Jerrie was on the ground giving instruction to Stan on turning etc. This report may or may not be true. The ship was in Jerries hangar and has been for a while. Stan wanted to fly it home to Fresno and probably that is what he was working towards. From the description it sounds like the gyro was probably at zero forward airspeed rotating around its axes. Depending on the CG, it is difficult to stop this without significant nose down and power. I'm not sure Stan had the altitude to do the required steps or the experience to do it. As far as flipping over, The guy at the airport said he was in a steep bank, side slip . I don't know. As far as parts flying off the ship, thats possible without a tail strike as there were lots of add ons that didn't appear secured very well at the display. The j4b-2 is very sensitive in yaw as the body acts like a long moment. Yaw strings are required, Stan didn't have one when I viewed his ship. Once you get used to not applying too much rudder, the j4b-2 is a great flying ship. Jerrie flew his all over the country side. It's my belief that this is another lack of training accident. my 2 cents worth.

[gyroplanes]

Hey Bob,
Any chance you can get a look at the wreckage and take pictures? I would possibly help to determine the probable cause.

[dick]

Sorry to hear this, my heart goes out to Stanley and all who have known him...........Dick

[j4flyer]

Tom, I would like too but,I probably could not gain access. I'm going to guess that it is back in Jerries hangar pending the inspection. Perhaps Jerrie can post some photos when he recovers. I'm sure he is shaken up as he has worked with Stan for several years. Being there when something happens also puts one in a state of depression. I feel for Jerrie right now. I just hope he remembers the pilot in command makes the decisions on when to fly etc. Even if Jerrie was assisting from the ground, the guy in the air has the ultimate responsibility for the go no go decision. I would like to know the exact cause as the J4b-2 has a great record. My friend Doug Glass flew his from Monterey to Vacaville all the time. Howard Merkel flew one across the US. etc. The last two accidents I know of have both been no training or extremly out of currency flights. Both guys walked away but, the machines were totalled. anyway, I'm rambling-sorry, these incidents still upset me.

[Cobra Doc]

He was a relatively low time pilot and had not done much, if any, flying in the previous 12 months. Actually, he did almost no flying in the last 24 months. In two years he flew a total of 8 hours.

[hcaliste]

Stanley McDonald's daughter is a celebrity.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=17988

[amphib]

I never met him, but my business partner knew him (not closely - Stan was his godfather's brother-in-law). My business partner is a 30-hour student pilot (fixed-wing, but wants to go to helicopters next) and this kind of news about people he knows always shakes him up.

So sad.

[Hognose]

Gee, what a sad story. Stan was only 62...

It turns out his daughter has a wikipedia entry if any of you want to look her up (I generally place little trust in wikipedia, but it seems to be good on pop culture stuff like actors, science fiction, comic book characters). Apparently her level of accomplishment in the theater is very rare. And she's also a singer (a Juilliard grad, as is her husband).

It's depressing to think of someone like this fellow dying in the sport we all love. It's doubly depressing to consider all the lives that have been changed forever by this accident. There's just nothing but sad news here.

My heart goes out to all the victims of this mishap.

regards

-=K=-

[gyroplanes]

Hundreds on hand to remember former educator

By Denny Boyles / The Fresno Bee 05/04/07 04:48:56

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Large in stature, large in life and large in love, Stanley James McDonald Jr. touched so many lives in his 62 years that at his memorial service Thursday, a church built to hold 900 people was over capacity before the first notes of the organ played.

McDonald died April 29 when a gyroplane, a small helicopter he built himself, crashed onto Highway 70 near Olivehurst in Yuba County.

A retired administrator who spent 33 years with the Fresno Unified School District, McDonald was a high school all-American athlete, a collegiate discus champion and an Army officer who served with distinction as a helicopter pilot and special forces soldier in Vietnam.

Later in life, friends said he was more proud of the accomplishments of his family, including daughter Audra McDonald, who has won four Tony awards.

Though he had achieved a lifetime's worth of goals by the time he returned from Vietnam, McDonald's family said he never stopped aiming for new heights, or caring for everyone around him.

"Many people respected his quiet strength," William McDonald said of his older brother. "Once, he found out that a student at his school had brought a gun to school and planned to use it. Stan sought out that boy, sat down by him and talked him into giving up the gun."

Stanley McDonald Jr. began his career as a teacher at Edison High School, where he had been a star athlete in basketball and track. In high school, McDonald already stood 6-foot-5.

He set a javelin record at the school that would stand for more than 40 years.

He grew another two inches during his college career at Lincoln University of Missouri in Jefferson City, Mo., and was a collegiate discus champion for three years straight.

While in college, he also served in the Reserve Officer Training Program. After graduation, he joined the Army and was assigned to Germany, then Vietnam.

William McDonald recalled watching the news each night during the time his brother served in the war, and seeing the numbers of soldiers who died.

"It seemed like he was over there forever," William McDonald said. "When he came home he married and had children. Later, when our father died, he held our family together through tragedy and pain. In my life, I've known no one longer than Stan, and I miss him terribly."

During his career as an educator he was a teacher and counselor, and principal at Bullard, Edison and Hoover high schools. He dealt with issues ranging from classroom performance and student protests over forced volunteerism, to allegations of racism during a prep baseball game. Through it all, friends said, McDonald maintained his composure, and his dignity.

"He knew the families at each of his schools, but made it his business to know the story of the child," said Diane Parrish, a longtime friend who worked with McDonald and lived next to him for 15 years.

Parrish said that since his death, she's heard many stories of her friend that show he was a man who loved everyone around him.

"He was a man who taught me you didn't have to be blood to be family."

As she addressed the nearly 1,000 people who came to Fresno's Family Community Church to honor her father, Audra McDonald said she and her family were overwhelmed by the support of the community.

She said that even after his death, she felt her father's influence when she was trying to decide whether to perform on Broadway the day she learned of his death.

"I felt his size 14 feet on my butt and could hear him saying, 'You get out there,' " Audra McDonald said. "My father was a great man, and you all showed you feel the same way by being here."

McDonald is survived by his wife of 18 years, Vicki; daughters Audra McDonald, Alison McDonald, Cynthia Bougoukalos and Mishell Bougoukalos; one granddaughter, Zoe Donovan; five sisters and one brother.
The reporter can be reached at dboyles@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6659. Enlarge this imageMark Crosse / The Fresno BeeBroadway star Audra McDonald, right, her daughter, Zoe Donovan, center, and her sister Alison McDonald read a poem

[dragonflyerthom]

Tom

Thank you for the post. Once again the lack of current proficiency has come back to bite another one. Apparently a good pilot with the need to move his gyro but he may have needed to trailer rather than fly it. One of the recommendations that my CFI has made is to fly regularly to stay proficient. If you don't, then get a CFI to fly with you until you get the feel of it again with a two place, Single place stay around the airport until you have it again and don't get too high off the ground. \\

We have lost another good man to this and there is another mark against our sport. The Barnett is hurt also

[kc0iv]

Tom

Thank you for the post. Once again the lack of current proficiency has come back to bite another one. Apparently a good pilot with the need to move his gyro but he may have needed to trailer rather than fly it. One of the recommendations that my CFI has made is to fly regularly to stay proficient. If you don't, then get a CFI to fly with you until you get the feel of it again with a two place, Single place stay around the airport until you have it again and don't get too high off the ground. \\

We have lost another good man to this and there is another mark against our sport. The Barnett is hurt also

Remember the old adage:

"The three most useless things to a pilot are the altitude above you, runway behind you, and a tenth of a second ago."

Leon
kc0iv