MT03 crash in France

[Mike G]

This is part of an article in the local paper. It's from their website and I don't have access to the rest of the article but if it's written with the usual imagination of the average reporter it's probably not worth reading. I'll see if I can get a copy just out of interest.

It basically says that the gyro, a sort of ultralight machine working on the principles of a helicopter crashed into an apple tree in a garden near a house. The pilot was 66 and lives near Le Havre.

Mike G

[hillberg]

Good parking job,home for lunch

[Mike G]

I doubt if the pilot owner pilot would appreciate your sense of humor, but I do.
I've heard he was taken to hospital but I don't know how bad he was injured, there was nobody at the field yesterday.
A quick look at the wreck in the hanger and there's a lot of damage but it looks like he wasn't travelling forward very fast, if at all, when he struck the tree.
Mike G

[barnstorm2]

Quite a rash of these in both FW and Rotary lately.

I guess everyone is rusty from winter and not doing a good job of getting machines and pilots ready for spring?

.

[Mike G]

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A few photos from the hanger. I was trying to use my wife's camera that has more knobs and buttons than a 747 instrument panel.
I still don't have any more news.
MikeG
the photo upload seems to have failed

[Mike G]

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx29/Mike_Gyro/MT03%20crash/SAM_0844.jpg

[Mike G]

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http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx29/Mike_Gyro/MT03%20crash/SAM_0836.jpg

[barnstorm2]

What a shame. I hope he re-builds.

[Buck]

Ooops! I hope he wasn't hurt badly.

[PW_Plack]

What a shame. I hope he re-builds.

I'd suspect that many of these factory-built, stainless steel machines will get written off and scrapped when they're wrecked. By the time you bought the proprietary parts you'd need from the manufacturer, you'd be in it pretty deep.

Might be cleaner and safer to just sell the salvaged Rotax and move on.

[Mike G]

Paul
I was thinking the same, just looking at the wreck, he'll need a new:
chassis/frame (probably, the makers might be able to repair it)
suspension
prop
tail feathers
rotor
rotor head?? (I doubt if I'd fly with the old one after a crash)
fibre glass body (maybe repairable)
control linkages

I had a quick look under the cover and the rudder pedals are badly bent and the front screen is broken, instruments seem OK.
The engine will need to be checked by Rotax I suppose.
As you say, with proprietary parts costs it would probably cost more than a good second hand replacement.
It's a great pity, I heard (yet to be confirmed) that he trained in this machine and bought it from his instructor, he had about 50 hours on it and was hoping to get the add on to his license to carry passengers.
One of the reasons I moved to this airfield was because there was another gyro pilot there. Unless he's very rich, I think I'll be on my own again.
Mike G

[Mike G]

A video of the owner of the apple tree explaining in french that the gyro rolled over after the rotor blade hit the tree. Pilot seems to have been trapped.

http://haute-normandie.france3.fr/info/eure-accident-grave-d-autogire-68054592.html?onglet=videos&id-video=000239621_CAPP_FortMovilleaccidentgravedauto gire_270320111706_F3

Just heard (again no confirmation) that pilot is in hospital with broken ribs but his life isn't in danger. Police say investigation like this usually takes 6 months!!!!!
Mike G

[DennisFetters]

It'll buff out.

[troed@aon.at]

Crash with a MT03 = always: total wreckage minus motor

motor can be salvaged, checked and built into the new gyro .............

[birdy]

Bloodyell!!!!!!
How did the tree fair outa this?
Gess it wont be given up many apples fora bit.

he wasn't travelling forward very fast, if at all, when he struck the tree.
Ah, the culprit.
Yeh, apparently we got trees like that over ere too.
Mazn how many of um just kamakazi into machinery.

An old bloke years ago was sootn down the local highway ere [ p1ssed asa mute] wen 'splat', he took out our turnoff sign.
Reconed he couldnt understand the logic in the gouvernment putn road signs in the middle ofa road. :)