Ohio gyro accident

[Rando]

I received this email from a friend who knows I fly a gyro, anyone know anything about it? I am trying to get more details about what he read but so far he has not replied to my email.

"Read in the paper there was a gyro crash on Friday night in Ohio with two
aboard..."

[Al_Hammer]

Two men killed in homemade Gyrocopter:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=27191
WILMOT -- Two men died Friday after an ultralight aircraft they were in clipped a power line and crashed.

Forty-one-year-old Arthur Close, of Wilmot, operated the homemade Gyrocopter, part airplane and part helicopter. He and his passenger, 32-year-old Matthew Gfell, of Milan, died. The State Highway Patrol says Close died at Massillon Community Hospital nearly one hour after 3:30 p.m. the crash. Gfell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police Chief Lenny Hummel said the aircraft clipped a power line with its wheels. Wilmot is in Stark County, about 15 miles southwest of Canton in northeast Ohio.

(The image on the front page is an example of a Gyrocopter.)

The FAA is currently investigating the incident.

[B8MFlorida]

Very Sad-
He loved Gyros-
We go back about 10 years ago when I lived in the Suburbs of Cleveland Ohio.
He had a single seater, a mixture of a Bensen/Air Command that had very nice touches throughout the Gyro.
I also remember when he bought his Side by Side Air Command he was very mad with the new engine(Sub) or the guy who Built/Installed it.
He use to let me and others, keep our gyros in his hanger at Middletown Ohio, until the airport Management told him they didn't want multiple gyros in one hangar.
I remember it was at this Airport that I trashed a new set of Bensen Blades doing solo low runway flights.
I felt really down and he encouraged me that my machine can be repaired.
He was going through I believe a difficult time with his divorce during this period.
He use to bring his very young son to the Hangar and he would ride his bike around.
I also, rememeber his Father bringing down to the Hangar his Honda Goldwing borrowing some of Art's tools to adjust the tracking of the sidecar on his Motorcycle.
We kind of loss touch with each other, and I would always wonder what he was doing or if he was OK or still into gyros.
He would always go out of his way for a fellow gyro friend.
Couldn't have met a nicer man,
My condolences to his family.
We lost a good soul, We're going to miss you,buddy.............additional info on this tragedy can be found here:
www.indeonline.com/left.php?ID=1120&r=1
Send me a private email if you would like the link to send an on-line condolence to the family.

[barnstorm2]

My sympathies to the families and friends of the lost pilot and passenger.

I think I met Art at Mentone this year, if he is the same Art.

[Rick Whittridge]

Very sad to here this news tonight.Art & I got into gyros about the same time. I remember seeing him solo at Brookville,Ohio years ago when visiting Glenn Bundy.He was a good friend & will be missed.

[CLS447]

Shar & I are very sad to hear this. This has to be the same Art Close we had the pleasure of meeting & spending time with at Mentone, He was just finishing up his SxS Elite Air Command w/ SUB4 EA81. Of course , his project was very near & dear to my heart because it was very close to my new gyro.

I never had the chance to get back with him on his progress. I can guess that it was flying. I wonder if the lack of power ,that my gyro is suffering, put him into that wire.

Our sympathy goes out to their family & friends.

It is hard to describe the sorrow that we are feeling after this terrible news.

Please everyone, STAY AWAY FROM WIRES !

[barnstorm2]

Chris,
Yes it was the sxs. I have a photo of the wreck and an article from the newspaper. I did not want to post it out of respect but I can send you a copy if you email me. I got your phone messages from last night. I should have some time to chat later today/night.

[gyroplanes]

Does anyone have a photo of Art Close they could post here ?
I certainly remember the name but can't place a face with it.

My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

[PW_Plack]

This reporting has to make the ultralight folks mad. An Air Command SxS is certainly no "ultralight."

[Rick Whittridge]

Tom, If you contact Pam at the office she probably has some pic`s of Art & Glenn. Art spent alot of time with Glenn in Brookville. You might remember his super nice Black Bensen hybrid that had a full flying tail that said EXTREME OBSESSION

[gyroplanes]

I was e-mailed a picture of Art. I never met him but do remember seeing him around. I certainly remember seeing the "Extreme Obsession" I took several pictures of it.

That makes about 7 or 8 gyro pilots that I know that have had wire strikes..... most died.

My condolences to the friends and family of Art Close.

[gyropilot]

Originally Posted by PW_Plack

This reporting has to make the ultralight folks mad. An Air Command SxS is certainly no "ultralight."

I'm saddened... no sickened... at the loss of another pilot... especially a fellow gyroplane pilot. It seems like Art was a well liked friend of many and had been around for awhile. This is a terrible loss for both his and the passenger's family.

[Original message edited to remove my question about the aircraft status and pilot judgement. My apologies to Art... RIP.]

John L.

[B8MFlorida]

"While it doesn't have a *direct* bearing on this crash, can someone please tell me what he was doing flying an unregistered (and therefore uncertificated) two-place gyroplane, not only with a passenger, but presumably before a proper flight-test period had been flown off?"

N9117S=Registered Owner Arthur V. Close

[PW_Plack]

John,

The aircraft received its airworthiness certificate in 1995. What makes you assume it did not have its 40 hours flown off?

[gyropilot]

Originally Posted by B8MFlorida

N9117S=Registered Owner Arthur V. Close

Originally Posted by PW_Plack

What makes you assume it did not have its 40 hours flown off?

The FAA accident / incident report stated it was unregistered. If it's unregistered, then it can't have an airworthiness certificate.

If Art was operating legally and showing good judgement, then I appologize and withdraw my comments.

************************************************** ******************************
** Report created 12/7/2004 Record 3 **
************************************************** ******************************

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: UNREG Make/Model: EXP Description: EXP- HOME BUILT
Date: 12/03/2004 Time: 2030

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

LOCATION
City: WILMOT State: OH Country: US

DESCRIPTION
HELO DEPARTED BEACH CITY, OH (2D7). AT WILMOT THE NOSE GEAR CLIPPED AN
ELECTRICAL LINE AND HELICOPTER CARTWHEELED INTO THE GROUND. THE 2 POB ARE
REPORTED FATAL. WILMOT, OH

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED



OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: General Aviation

Departed: BEACH CITY, OH Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: UNKN Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: NONE- NO RADIO
Last Clearance: NONE

FAA FSDO: CLEVELAND, OH (GL25) Entry date: 12/06/2004