Adler SA-1 accident near Mead, CO
On September 8, 2002, an Adler SA-1 (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Mead, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 8, 2002
- Place
- Mead, CO
- Aircraft
- Adler SA-1 · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.214°N, 104.950°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020920X05186
NTSB summary
On September 8, 2002, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, an Adler SA-1 gyroplane, N551SA, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain and burned near Mead, Colorado. The private pilot was fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The local flight originated approximately 0900 from the Jefferson County (Jeffco) Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. Two witnesses told a sheriff's deputy that the gyroplane sounded as if it was "struggling." Two other witnesses submitted written statements. One witness said that he "could tell the aircraft was having mechanical problems." The gyroplane dropped about 1,000 feet, "lost a wing" and began to "spin and tumble out of control." Another witness said he heard the engine either "miss or stall slightly," and also saw "a rotor or a wing" come off in flight. All four witnesses saw smoke as the gyroplane impacted terrain and immediately caught fire. According to the deputy's report, a rotor blade was found about 150 feet north of the point of impact, and other debris was strewn to the southwest. The impact site was circular in shape, approximately 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet) in diameter. The accident occurred 0.25-mile south of (Weld) county road 32 and 0.25-mile west of county road 13, at a location of 40 degrees, 12'48.30" north latitude, and 104 degrees, 57'02.80" west longitude. The co-builder of the accident gyroplane --- a physician and a close friend of the pilot --- contac
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm, resulting in blade flapping, subsequent blade contact with the airframe, and loss of control.
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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.
