Gyro Accident in KY.

[Harry_S.]

Anyone have any info on this accident??



IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 444PD Make/Model: EXP Description: GYROCOPTER
Date: 10/02/2007 Time: 2225

Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
City: WORTHINGTON State: KY Country: US

DESCRIPTION
N444PD, AN EXPERIMENTAL GYROCOPTER CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES,
WORTHINGTON, KY

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

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER


FAA FSDO: LOUISVILLE, KY (SO01) Entry date: 10/03/2007

[PTKay]

Dominator OrangeaNator N444PD Orange

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13669

[Rando]

Phil Degelia

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=444PD

[barnstorm2]

I know him from Mentone, a great guy.

He is a regular for the breakfast flights.

He is a forum member under cbfisher

article:

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

Airport mishap

Phil Degelia’s battered gyrocopter rests on the grass beside the runway at the Ashland Regional Airport after a hard landing Tuesday that wrecked the machine and injured Degelia’s wrist.

Airport manager Larry Wilson said the Federal Aviation Administration would classify the event asan incident and not an accident because the copter struck the ground from a couple of feet and broke a wheel, which knocked it over. Degelia, of Ashland,is an experienced pilot and his is the only gyrocopter in the region, Wilson said.

In the photo they are calling his machine "A Helicopter"

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

Phil, if you are on, GET Well soon and start rebuilding! I bundled one of mine up too on a hard landing. My nosewheel came off on a hard landing and toppled my gyro.

Let me know if I can help in anyway.
.

[scottessex]

Wow, Glad he wasn't seriously injured. I always see Phil at ROC, He's a great guy.

[Brian]

Phil are you ok sounds like minor injuries let us know. gyro can be fixed or replaced let me know if I can be of help hebden4@verizon.net look forward to talking to you at Bensen days

[GyroRon]

yikes.... that sucks! Looks like it musta landed hard, broke the left landing gear and then fell over on it's side.

New landing gear, rotors, propblades, seat tank bracing, rotorhead rebuild and maybe it can fly again!

[cbfisher]

I didn't realize I generated any notice outside of the local area! You have one bad landing and look at all the commotion. Seriously, I did not adequately correct for the wind that was coming across the runway. When I was low and slow, the wind moved my nose to the right and the left wheel hit, causing a rocking motion from wheel to wheel. The left landing gear collapsed. Fully stopped, I rolled on the left side. I broke a bone in my left hand, somewhat minor. When the rotor blades hit the ground, it sent a shock through the controls to the stick. The violent movement of the stick hit my right wrist, dislocating it and breaking it. I had to have surgery to put a plate and screws on the broken bone. I returned to work on Monday morning.

I talked to Ernie Boyette tonight about a rebuilding plan. I may not be a stellar pilot, but I have put too much effort into learning to fly to quit after a roll. Besides, I like flying too much to quit!

Be careful out there!

[Timchick]

Phil,
Glad to hear your OK, other than the minor breaks that is. Also glad it went over when you were stopped so the damage was less than what it could've been. Others have rebuilt after much worse. Hope you're back in the air by Bensen Days.

[barnstorm2]

Phil,

Fantastic to hear you are OK and rebuilding!!

.

[Brent Drake]

Glad to hear your ok and going to rebuild. I'm looking forward to flying to breakfast again next year with you.

[dragonflyerthom]

Man, Man, Man. I agree, I want to go to breakfast with you next year.

[Brian]

good to hear see you in the spring