Althouse RAF 2000 GTX accident near Crowley, TX
On December 29, 2007, an Althouse RAF 2000 GTX (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Crowley, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 29, 2007
- Place
- Crowley, TX
- Aircraft
- Althouse RAF 2000 GTX · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.557°N, 97.486°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080103X00010
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 29, 2007, about 1140 central standard time, a single-engine Althouse RAF 2000 GTX gyrocopter, N136DG, was destroyed following a loss of rotor rpm and subsequent collision with terrain while maneuvering near Crowley, Texas. The sport pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The gyrocopter was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight had originated from the Fort Worth Spinks Airport (FWS), near Fort Worth, Texas. The gyrocopter departed on a local flight for the purpose of giving the nine year old passenger a ride. When the pilot and passenger failed to return to the airport the passenger's family notified local authorities. The wreckage was located a short time later. There was one reported eyewitness to the accident. According to the witness, he was driving his truck on a ranch when he heard a 'loud pop' which sounded like an "engine backfire." As he looked towards the noise he observed the gyrocopter, approximately 50-feet above the ground, descending at a nose down angle of approximately 60-degrees. The gyrocopter impacted the ground approximately 100-feet from where the witness was located. The witness further reported that before the impact, the rotor blades appeared to be spinning "slowly." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. In addition, the pilot held a sport pil
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of rotor blade rigidity.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
