| Crash location | 27.031111°N, 80.433334°W |
| Nearest city | Indiantown, FL
27.027276°N, 80.485608°W 3.2 miles away |
| Tail number | N412MF |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 25 Jan 2018 |
| Aircraft type | Foxfly Inc Foxdominator |
| Additional details: | None |
On January 25, 2018, about 1447 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built, FoxFly Inc., gyroplane, N412MF, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain during takeoff at Indiantown Airport (X58), in Indiantown, Florida. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for the pilot's home at Tailwind Airport (FD15) in Jupiter, Florida.
According to a witness statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the gyroplane commenced its takeoff roll at about 5,600 feet down runway 13, which is a 6,300-foot-long turf runway. The gyroplane started on the far-right side of the runway centerline, then rolled diagonally to the left side beyond the runway side markers, then turned right to parallel runway 13 and continued the takeoff roll beyond the runway end, until it hit a small ditch and then impacted an elevated road. The gyroplane then "flipped" two times while traversing the road and coming to rest on the far side on a steep canal embankment.
The witness stated that the airport wind sock was "standing straight out" from the northeast at almost a direct left to right crosswind with some gusts, and he estimated the wind to be 20 to 25 knots. He said the gyroplane never left the ground prior to impact. The witness called 911 and emergency crews were dispatched. The pilot was air evacuated to a local hospital with serious injuries. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rudder.
According to a statement by the certified mechanic who worked on the gyrocopter earlier that day, there were no known mechanical issues and a condition inspection was completed on the Rotax 914 UL engine, propeller assembly, rotor system, and airframe earlier that day. The pilot was planning on flying his gyroplane back home after the inspection.
The wreckage was recovered and secured for future examination.
The closest official weather observation station is Witham Field Airport (SUA,) about 15 nm northeast of the accident location. At 1447 a METAR was reporting, in part, wind, 050° at 14 knots with gusts of 25 knots.