Mcdonald J4B-2 accident near Marysville, CA
On April 29, 2007, a Mcdonald J4B-2 (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Marysville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 29, 2007
- Place
- Marysville, CA
- Aircraft
- Mcdonald J4B-2 · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.083°N, 121.572°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070508X00527
NTSB summary
"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED MAY 28, 2008." HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 29, 2007, at 1200 Pacific daylight time, an experimental McDonald J4B-2 gyrocopter, N445SM, impacted terrain following a loss of control during cruise flight near Marysville, California. The pilot/owner/builder operated the gyrocopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. The gyrocopter was destroyed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed the Yuba County Airport (MYV), Marysville, California, at an undetermined time. A friend of the pilot, the gyrocopter kit manufacturer, reported that on the morning of the accident, the pitch needed to be readjusted on the main rotor system. The friend stated that the main rotor system was about 1/4 inch off track. He and the pilot made the adjustment, and the friend conducted a test flight with no problems encountered. Witnesses reported seeing the gyrocopter about 3/4 mile away from highway 70 before it went into a spin. The gyrocopter then spun towards the highway and crashed onto the southbound lanes. These witnesses were in various locations near the accident site. They all heard a loud "pop" emanate from the gyrocopter, and then saw debris falling to the ground. One witness reported a pipe similar to a tail pipe fell in her neighbor's yard. Another witness reported that he was watching the gyrocopter fly over his residence. A gust of wind struck the gyrocopter and its nose pointed in an upward ang
Probable cause
An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the impairment of the pilot by the drug substances identified in the toxicological testing.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
