Coen BENSON B8 accident near Aurora, CO
On September 3, 1993, a Coen BENSON B8 (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Aurora, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 3, 1993
- Place
- Aurora, CO
- Aircraft
- Coen BENSON B8 · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.630°N, 104.780°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13412
NTSB summary
On September 3, 1993, approximately 1627 mountain daylight time, an unregistered Coen's Benson B8 impacted terrain in Aurora, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. A motorist saw the gyroplane flying at an altitude between 300 and 400 feet. He said the aircraft suddenly "rolled right, nearly inverted, and descended at approximately 80 degrees nose down." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who went to the accident site reported all components of the aircraft were recovered, and noted the main rotor blades were bowed "conically." Examination of the wreckage revealed several deep gouges and a scrape mark atop the engine crankcase, directly beneath the center engine mounting bolt. The engine mount was fractured. According to a University of Denver metallurgist, it appeared this fracture was due to fatigue. The remaining fractures were the result of overload. No evidence of flight control malfunction or failure was found.
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CENTER ENGINE MOUNT THAT ALTERED THE THRUST AND LIFT VECTORS.
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Browse: Colorado
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
