The pilot taxied to the end of the runway and did a full-length departure. He stated that the
taxi, runup, takeoff, and climb to 500 ft above ground level (agl) were normal. The engine was
running fine. He had planned to climb to 1,000 ft agl, circle around, and come back to the
airport. However, while continuing to climb through about 500 ft agl, the gyroplane stopped
climbing and started to descend. He didn't remember hearing any change to the sound of the
engine and he thought the engine was still running, but he was aware that the gyroplane wasn't
climbing anymore. He checked the altimeter and confirmed that they were in a descent. He
started to turn back to the airport but realized he couldn't make it back and tried to land in a
field. He saw that he would not clear the powerlines, so he turned sharply, but the gyroplane
hit the powerline and crashed on the side of the ditch. He turned the engine and fuel off and he
and the passenger climbed out the aircraft. A small grass fire had started in the ditch by the
fallen powerline about 20 yards from the gyroplane and it was quickly extinguished; it did not
affect the gyroplane wreckage.
The pilot rated passenger reported that the takeoff was uneventful. He stated that during the
initial climb
[i.e., from 500' AGL to 1000'], he heard a change in the sound of the engine, like a decrease in engine RPMs. The
pilot told him that they were losing power as he was attempting to troubleshoot the problem.
The pilot turned to an open field to the right side of the gyroplane but was unable to avoid
hitting the powerline.
He reported that it was about 10 to 15 seconds from the time of the loss
of power until impact. The accident site was located about 800 ft south of the departure end of
runway 15.
https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=LA