Stiles Choctaw accident near Danville, KY
On January 22, 2002, a Stiles Choctaw (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Danville, KY. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 22, 2002
- Place
- Danville, KY
- Aircraft
- Stiles Choctaw · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.639°N, 84.769°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020128X00141
Official records · NYC02LA049
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On January 22, 2002, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Chocktaw homebuilt gyrocopter, N97CS, was substantially damage during a forced landing in Danville, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Stuart Powell Field (DVK), Danville, Kentucky. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. An off-duty Kentucky State Police trooper stated that he witnessed the accident flight. He was traveling north on a road adjacent to the airport between 1430 and 1445, and saw a small yellow gyrocopter ascend from DVK. The gyrocopter made a left turn, and flew overhead. As it passed overhead, the trooper observed a steady stream of dark gray smoke emanating from the gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then appeared to make a left turn and climb as if it was going back toward the airport. The trooper then lost site of the gyrocopter. The wreckage was located in a field about 1 mile south of DVK, and examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector observed the wreckage inverted, and canted toward its right side. Due to impact damage, he was unable to confirm flight control continuity. The inspector added that the gyrocopter was equipped with a Subaru EJ22 engine, and two separate fuel tanks. The fuel tanks were ruptured, and a strong odor of fuel was present at the accident site. The rotor blades sustained minor damage, and the propeller was not damaged. The inspector was able to rotate the engine crankshaft approximately 30 degrees, bu
Probable cause
Failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb.
More accidents in KY
- Bombardier, Inc. CRJ-100, Aug 27, 2006
- Piper PA-31T2, Feb 17, 1982
- Cessna 401A, Aug 28, 2006
- Piper PA-32R-301T, Apr 3, 1988
- Piper PA-32R-301, Mar 22, 2004
Browse: Kentucky
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
