Witnesses Saw Rotor Head Separate From The Aircraft In Flight

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident that occurred November 16th involving a Pearson Dragonfly amateur-built gyroplane.

The terse report indicates that the aircraft impacted terrain near the Chambers County Airport (T00), in Anahuac, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed. The gyroplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Anahuac about 1300.

Witnesses told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector they saw the rotor head separate in flight. The pilot had recently installed the rotor head, and preliminary reports indicate the rotor head bearing block was installed upside down.

In a news release following the accident, Chamber's County, TX Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said that County Communications received a 911 call of a gyrocopter crash off of Belton Lane and Airport Road in Anahuac. Within minutes Chambers County Deputies arrived and called for the Anahuac Volunteer Fire Department and the Anahuac Emergency Medical Services to respond. The pilot, a 59 year old white male who resided in Harris, County did not survive. The scene was secured by the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office and turned over to the Department of Public Safety and the FAA for further investigation.

(Image provided by the Chambers County Sheriff's Department)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov