Ortmayer/Parson none accident near Bunnell, FL
On March 12, 2004, an Ortmayer/Parson none (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Bunnell, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 12, 2004
- Place
- Bunnell, FL
- Aircraft
- Ortmayer/Parson none · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 29.467°N, 81.206°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040325X00373
NTSB summary
On March 12, 2004, about 1830 eastern standard time, an experimental Ortmayer/Parson Gyroplane, N69EP, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight, had a separation of a main rotor blade during a high speed taxi at the Flagler County Airport, Bunnell, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated/certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot received serious injuries and the non-rated student pilot received fatal injuries. The owner/CFI stated he and the student were nearing the completion a flight lesson. Ultralights and gyroplanes use the closed runway at the airport to remain clear of airport traffic. They were practicing flight control coordination while in taxi mode on the ground. At a high speed taxi the nose wheel is off the runway due to the rotor disc is tipped back and the blade speed is increased. At the same time the ground speed does not increase very much. During the high speed taxi, he heard a loud thud and something hit his left side and hand. The engine stopped and they coasted to a stop. The responding FAA inspector stated the on-scene investigation found the hub bar wing and rotor blade had separated from the hub bar due to the failure of the hub bar wing retaining bolt head. (Part Number: AN12-34A). The fractured bolt, nut, and hub bar wing were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. by the FAA. The NTSB Material Laboratory Factual Report states the bolt that retains the hub bar wing to the hu
Probable cause
The owner/pilot mechanic's failure to comply with a manufacture notice to replace the rotor blades and hub bar assembly, resulting in a failure of the hub bar to hub bar wing attaching bolt and separation of a main rotor blade.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
