Flight to 48 states down in Oregon (45th state)

[ventana7]

With only 3 states left to visit in my quest to fly to all 48 states in the Continental U.S. I've crashed my gyro in Bend,Oregon.

I had some sort of control failure shortly after take-off that made it hard to control the pitch attitude when I attempted to turn back towards the airport that resulted in a steep uncontrolled diving right turn. No amount of stick input would stop the roll to the right or allow any flare and the machine impacted hard. My passenger and I suffered mostly cuts and bruises but the gyro is damaged beyond repair.

Rob

[gyropilot]

Rob,

Sorry to hear about your accident and I'm really glad you and your passenger are OK.

Hang in there!

John L.

PS: Don't know if it was a bad omen or not, but did you realize that your registration number (N4416N) was previously assigned to an aircraft that was reported destroyed in 1994? Creepy!

[gyropilot]

Rob,

You're famous... you even made the AP...

Gyroplane crashes in Bend

09/19/2005

Associated Press

Two men escaped serious injury Sunday when their gyroplane crashed at the south end of the Bend Airport.

Pilot Robert Durin, 52, of Green Cove Springs, Fla., reported shortly after takeoff that his plane had a power problem. He turned back, but couldn't reach the airport before crashing, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

Durin and his passenger, William Fitzmaurice, 54, of Bend, walked away with minor injuries.

Federal Aviation Administration investigators are expected to examine the crash Monday.

Gyroplanes are a cross between a helicopter and a fixed-wing airplane. They have an overhead rotor for lift and a rear-mounted propeller for thrust.

[ToddP]

Rob,

I'm so sorry to hear the trip has ended like this. I am however happy to hear you walked away from the accident. Alot of people on this forum were anxiously watching your trip and reading your updates.

While you didn't reach your ultimate goal, I think you've made a great statement for the sport of gyroplanes. You and Dee should be very proud of your achievment!

[KenSandyEggo]

Rob, so sorry to hear that. It's heart-breaking, isn't it? At least mine was rebuildable. Glad you and your passenger came out O.K. :( Did you ever upgrade all the rod-end bearings in the control system from the ones that came with the kit? Is there enough left to maybe pinpoint the cause? From what you describe, sounds like a control-tube/rod-end bearing failure somewhere.

[banaari]

Oh man, and so close too - that sucks :(
Sorry about your ship - but at least you're both alive to tell the tale - sounds like it was a close thing.

[GyroRon]

Glad your okay, be very interested in knowing what caused the loss of control.

[StanFoster]

Rob: I feel for you man. Thank god you or your passenger werent hurt bad.
Real sorry to hear this.

Just curious...on your AAI modified RAF....are the controls still mostly RAF...or are they like the ones in the SparrowHawk? I am working on my cyclic and it is a lot stonger throughout.

I sure hope you are going to rebuild.....my hats off to you for trying to fly to the 48 states......

Stan

[Heron]

Hey . . .you made it up to here didn't you? :D
So Lets celebrate and make plans for another great adventure.
Thanks man! Glad you are ok!
Heron

[bartc150]

I wonder if it was a stuck pre- rotator. If I remember correctly this was an issue before. Anyway glad to hear you're ok and near the airport, and not in the canyons.

[Zack]

You can always build/buy another gyro, and as a Chicago Cub fan I can assure you, "there is always next year" to fly all 50 states. As it is, you've had one heck of an adventure!

[Timchick]

Rob,
Glad to hear you and your passenger escaped serious injury. Sorry to hear it's beyond repair.

[PW_Plack]

Rob, sorry to hear the news! If nothing else, your trip is not lacking in adventure, or bruises!

Interesting, AP got both the spelling of your last name, and your report of the cause of the accident, wrong. By the time you find out what caused the accident, it won't be news anymore, so corrections will never be made. An interesting lesson to those who like to quote press accounts!

(At least they got the right airport...)

[Aussie_Paul]

With only 3 states left to visit in my quest to fly to all 48 states in the Continental U.S. I've crashed my gyro in Bend,Oregon.

I had some sort of control failure shortly after take-off that made it hard to control the pitch attitude when I attempted to turn back towards the airport that resulted in a steep uncontrolled diving right turn. No amount of stick input would stop the roll to the right or allow any flare and the machine impacted hard. My passenger and I suffered mostly cuts and bruises but the gyro is damaged beyond repair.

Rob

Gee Rob so sorry to hear that BUT you are ok. That feeling of loss of control is the worst feeling that I have ever had.

Hang in there, we are so proud of what you have achieved so far for gyroplanes.

Aussie Paul. :)

[CLS447]

Rob, Shar & I are very glad that you were not hurt badly. You had us upset when we heard about what happened at Mentone. BTW , how is your hand?

We hope that you stay involved with the gyro thing so we can have the opportunity to speak with you in person, again.

Tell Dee we said ...Hi ! Hope to hear more from you, Take it easy. Chris & Shar

[Chopper Reid]

Sorry to hear about the accident Rob, sounds nasty. Great that you walked away okay!!
All the best.

[Harry_S.]

That's really sorry news, Rob.

Please keep us posted...when you can.

.

[ventana7]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

I am trying to arrange a gyro to finish the trip in. It is only 3 states and abut 6 more days of flying.

Rob

[spaceman spiff]

Cool!.. that was going to be my question.

Why stop now? Go man go! Your place in gyro history is a few short hours away.

[Doug Riley]

If the general news media are to be believed, all aircraft accidents are caused by either the engine "stalling" or the wind stopping.

Rob, you are truly an intrepid adventurer, whether in sea or air. Congratulations in advance on your trip.

And you don't look 52, either. Doing cool stuff preserves youth's glow.

[Hognose]

Rob, glad that you & Wilkinson are alright. It was a nice machine but think of all the stuff you can do better on the next one!

Let me add my voice to the chorus of those curious about the cause of the loss of control.

Trust AP to do a story about one of your less wonderful flights... and then not even spell your name right.

cheers

-=K=-

[twistair]

Rob,

Everybody who crashed his machine once knows what you feel. Not to repeat all the same - I'm sure we all think the same about your adventure - anyway: it would be very helpful if you post as more details about the failure. This may save somebody's health and wallet in future.

Hope this story didn't stop you from further odyssees - whether in the air or sea.

Keep sailing!

[ventana7]

We are still trying to figure out what or where the control problems originated but the post crash damage makes that difficult. I will certainly post whatever I learn.

Rob

[Gary_in_Orygun]

I am glad to hear you are ok. When I first heard you were in Oregon I was hoping you might head over to our valley so we could meet up.

I also wondered how your RAF was performing over there in Central Oregon. Bend airport is at 3400 feet ASL. With any kind of heat to add to density altitude, I'm surprised you could get your machine off the ground with 2 people. Might that have been a factor (density altitude)?

Sorry to hear the machine is not rebuildable. I tipped mine over in 2001 and it was not a happy time, but getting it back in the air again helped.

[CLS447]

Rob, is the picture, on page 5 of the August 05 issue of Rotorcraft mag, of you & Dee ? I remember you differently. Sorry if I am wrong.

[Hognose]

If the general news media are to be believed, all aircraft accidents are caused by either the engine "stalling" or the wind stopping.

Closely followed by, <breathless announcer voice> "The pilot did NOT file a flight plan!" </breathless>

As everyone who watches TV knows, the two things that hold aircraft up are Flight Plans and Radio Communications. How the hell Orv and Will ever pulled it off without anybody to file their flight plans with is beyond me.

cheers

-=K=-

[Friendly]

Rob, I enjoyed meeting you at the Gonzales Flyin , I have followed your post and adventure with excitement for you and our sport. We are all saddened by the loss of your gyro but I know everyone here is glad not to be reading of any serious injuries or worse. God bless your efforts to complete this endeavor. Chapter 20 is rooting for you at the finish line.

[scott heger]

Rob, I'm sorry to hear of your loss and that your OK. What you didn't lose was the memories of a lifetime adventure that will never be taken away. Did you figure out any other thing that could have caused the problems?

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca N86SH

[Canadian Rhino]

Are you going to tell us about your award Rob?

[Chuck Roberg]

For the award click here:

http://www.eaa.org/communications/eaanews/051006_dubin.html

[Udi]

Congratulations Rob for completing your journey!

You have claimed your place in the history books.

Hope you get your gyro back in shape soon.

Udi

[barnstorm2]

Rob,

I can relate. I recently turned my 2 place side by side into a ball of scrap alum.

At first I was overwhemed but now have decided to rebuild and try and think of this as an oppurtunity to make a better gyro this time.

I hope you will be rebuilding or getting a new gyro soon.