American Autogyro Sparrowhawk

Full Narrative

On November 4, 2015, about 1300 eastern standard time, an American Autogyro Inc., Sparrowhawk experimental gyrocopter, N80825, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Wakeman, Ohio. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The local flight had just departed Ortner Airport (I64), Wakeman, Ohio.During the takeoff from runway 22 the pilot maintained "cyclic balance" until the gyrocopter lifted off at 65 miles per hour. The red alarm light on the panel illuminated and the pilot scanned his instruments but noted nothing anomalous. The gyrocopter started to descend and he was unable to maintain altitude or climb. The pilot maneuvered the gyrocopter to avoid obstacles and trees and during the forced landing to a field it rolled to the left. The fuselage, tail boom, and rotor mast were substantially damaged.

Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who responded to the accident reported that the fuel tank contained fuel and a sample of fuel taken from the system was free of visible contamination and water. The spark plugs were clean and exhibited signs of normal operation. There was no evidence of a catastrophic engine failure and nothing that would contribute to a loss of engine power.

The red alarm light that illuminated on the pilot's instrument panel during the accident flight was designed to illuminate if the exhaust gas temperature or cylinder head temperature limits were exceeded. The inspector was unable to determine why this light illuminated.

An examination of the engine, airframe, and systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine prior to the impact.