Kolibri
FW and Gyros
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2014
- Messages
- 1,636
- Location
- Wyoming
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, 172, 172RG, 177, 206 -- Piper 180 -- RV-7A -- Calidus -- RAF2000 -- Sport Copter II and
- Total Flight Time
- 1000+
I'm currently looking into comparative mast/rotor system strengths of various gyros, as evinced by their post-crash condition.
Consistent points of breakage from impact illustrates a system's weakest areas.
In my opinion, to protect gyro occupants and the public, during a crash the mast should remain intact and not fold over.
Although the rotors will naturally suffer crash damage, they should not tear off or fold up.
(Rotors torn off are sometimes flung a great distance with much energy, which endangers others.)
Most incidents were landing tip-overs, vs. high-speed impact with terrain.
Most of these crashes were sourced from: https://gyroaccidents.blogspot.com/
Tail numbers (when known) are embedded in the photos. (Foreign tails are C for Canada, D for Germany, and G for the U.K.)
My first series here are AutoGyros with Rotor System 2, from crashes 2015-2018.
Bending of the stainless steel mast was not uncommon.
Breaking off a rotor from the end of the tension strap was very common, and if not broken off they were almost always bent in that area.
Thus, thaat seems to be the weakest area of their rotor system.
This area of breakage was also noticed in ELA crashes, which I'll post soon.
The Trixy was most pronounced with a complete folding of its stainless steel mast.
Regards,
Kolibri
Consistent points of breakage from impact illustrates a system's weakest areas.
In my opinion, to protect gyro occupants and the public, during a crash the mast should remain intact and not fold over.
Although the rotors will naturally suffer crash damage, they should not tear off or fold up.
(Rotors torn off are sometimes flung a great distance with much energy, which endangers others.)
Most incidents were landing tip-overs, vs. high-speed impact with terrain.
Most of these crashes were sourced from: https://gyroaccidents.blogspot.com/
Tail numbers (when known) are embedded in the photos. (Foreign tails are C for Canada, D for Germany, and G for the U.K.)
My first series here are AutoGyros with Rotor System 2, from crashes 2015-2018.
Bending of the stainless steel mast was not uncommon.
Breaking off a rotor from the end of the tension strap was very common, and if not broken off they were almost always bent in that area.
Thus, thaat seems to be the weakest area of their rotor system.
This area of breakage was also noticed in ELA crashes, which I'll post soon.
The Trixy was most pronounced with a complete folding of its stainless steel mast.
Regards,
Kolibri