MILLS GREGORY T AIR COMMANDER LRT
Tybee Island, GA — May 14, 2016
Event Information
| Date | May 14, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA16CA240 |
| Event ID | 20160518X52006 |
| Location | Tybee Island, GA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 31.97611, -80.85445 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | MILLS GREGORY T |
| Model | AIR COMMANDER LRT |
| Category | GYRO |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's decision to perform a touch-and-go on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a rollover.
Full Narrative
The pilot of a gyroplane reported that during a touch-and-go on a sand bar, the nose wheel began to dig into soft sand. The pilot further reported that he turned the nose wheel to the left towards firmer sand, but the spring-loaded nose wheel dug further into the sand and suddenly turned "full left." Subsequently, the gyroplane rolled over to the right, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder.
The pilot reported that the throttle quadrant friction-set screw had become loose while in-flight, but the mechanical malfunction did not occur during the touch-and-go phase of flight.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.