Holsclaw Barnett J4B accident near Titusville, PA
On July 28, 2001, a Holsclaw Barnett J4B (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Titusville, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 28, 2001
- Place
- Titusville, PA
- Aircraft
- Holsclaw Barnett J4B · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.606°N, 79.742°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010803X01590
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 28, 2001, about 1220 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Barnett J4B gyroplane, N3919C, was destroyed when it struck the ground at Titusville Airport, Titusville, Pennsylvania. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot made a flight around the airport. According to witnesses, at the completion of the flight he reported that the gyroplane felt nose heavy. He then took off again, and departed the area. After about 1 hour, the gyroplane returned to the airport. Witnesses reported the pilot made a steep descent and leveled off about 100 to 150 feet above the ground, at a reduced power setting, parallel to the runway, heading south. The nose of the gyroplane dropped, and the power was heard to increase, after which, the gyroplane resumed level flight. As the gyroplane neared the departure end of the runway, the pilot initiated a steep right turn. During the turn, the nose dropped, and the gyroplane impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot's logbook was not recovered. A check of FAA records revealed the pilot was issued a student pilot certificate and third class FAA airman medical certificate on September 22, 1998, and they had subsequently expired. There was no record that the pilot had ever filled out an FAA airman application, and his total flight experience was not determined. According to the pilot's son, the pilot had no
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control while maneuvering. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in type of gyroplane.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
