Quote of the day. Well put.A hard-to-start engine is a safety feature if it keeps him from getting airborne.
The "upsloping field" part is interesting. Curious about the direction of the takeoff roll.Update - the NTSB Preliminary gives us some facts - First of all the gyrocopter involved is now listed as N419LB ( initially reported as N419LM ) - the FAA registers shows N419LB as "expired - sale reported" from Texas.
The Preliminary report ref CEN22FA016 states,
"A witness reported that he observed the gyroplane on a 300-ft, private, upsloping field. The pilot added full power to the engine and the gyroplane started its takeoff roll toward the north. However, it never lifted off of the ground and impacted a barbed wire fence at the end of the field. The pilot was ejected from the gyroplane, and the gyroplane came to rest upright. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor assembly and vertical stabilizer. The nearest weather reporting station was about 7 miles northwest of the accident site. At the time of the accident, wind was reported from 140° at 14 gusting to 18 knots.""
Seems a very short strip ( 300ft -approx 100m ) - was the wind from almost behind.
I believe it killed him and his wife if my memory serves me correctly. it was back in 1989That is so sad. Some on this forum may recall an owner of a McCulloch J2 that had a known bad main rotor bearing, was told not to fly, was given a new main rotor bearing which he put the the J2s storage compartment and then took of on a flight...... bearing failed J2 crashed, he died.
Can't fix stupid.
Ya, that's just the cherry on top of the whole mess...and apparently with seatbelt not fastened....
Vance, that's kind of a scary looking photo. Is that a takeoff or a landing?? Whose FB page was that on?I had a vague recollection of seeing this Cavalon at AirVenture so I checked facebook and there is was.
I have no information on the photo. When I saw her she was in the ultralight area of AirVenture with a cover over her.Vance, that's kind of a scary looking photo. Is that a takeoff or a landing?? Whose FB page was that on?
I feel the takeoff decision was likely made before the takeoff was commenced.I've no idea what happened - surprised no one's yet mentioned a medical incapacitation