Toevs Titanium Explorer accident near Whitewater, KS
On July 16, 2016, a Toevs Titanium Explorer (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Whitewater, KS. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 16, 2016
- Place
- Whitewater, KS
- Aircraft
- Toevs Titanium Explorer · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.993°N, 97.107°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160716X01657
Official records · CEN16LA266
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 15, 2016, about 1900 central daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Titanium Explorer gyroplane, N556XT, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Whitewater, Kansas. A post impact fire ensued. The sport pilot was fatally injured. The gyroplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No FAA flight plan had been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that originated from Newton City/County Airport (EWK), Newton, Kansas, about 1830. According to witnesses interviewed by Kansas Highway Patrol officers and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the gyroplane was flying at a low altitude. The gyroplane started a turn, its nose pitched up, and then it descended and impacted the ground. One witness described hearing engine noise. A review of FAA air traffic control radar data did not reveal any primary or secondary radar targets consistent with the accident gyroplane. The gyroplane was not in communications, nor was it required to be in communications, with air traffic controllers. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 61, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and a sport pilot certificate with a rotorcraft gyroplane rating. He was issued his gyroplane rating, after passing the practical test in the accident gyroplane, on June 17, 2016. He also held a repairman certificate with an "inspection light sport – rotorcraft gyroplane" rating issued on August 24, 2011. The pilot's most recent thi
Probable cause
The loss of aircraft control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
More accidents in KS
- Sikorsky S-76B, Jul 5, 2001
- Cessna 421C Riley Turbine E, Jan 21, 2005
- Cessna 210M, Nov 6, 1983
- Cessna 401, May 11, 2012
- Beech A36, Jul 7, 1994
Browse: Kansas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
