NTSB Factual Report

On April 21, 2001, about 1900 central daylight time, a Bensen gyrocopter, N218DH, registered to a private individual, landed hard, bounced then rolled over after touchdown on a golf fairway at the Troy County Club, Troy, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The gyrocopter was substantially damaged and the airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes earlier from the Brundidge Municipal Airport, Brundidge, Alabama.

The pilot stated that he performed a power-off approach to the 10th fairway, but just before touchdown he elected to fly closer to the club house and pitched the nose up then added power, but the engine did not respond. A high sink rate developed resulting in a hard landing. The gyrocopter then began to wobble, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the grass fairway. The gyrocopter then rolled over and a postcrash fire damaged one of the main rotor blades, the main rotor pitch change assembly, and the carburetor. He further stated that there was no flight control preimpact failure or malfunction and he believes the engine quit during the approach due to "flooding", as it had happened before. He also stated that he should have added power before pitching up to air taxi.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during the approach resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor in the accident was the loss of engine power during final approach due to undetermined reasons.