James Dayton Pit Bull JD-3
Leonardtown, MD — January 27, 2008
Event Information
| Date | January 27, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | NYC08CA093 |
| Event ID | 20080306X00273 |
| Location | Leonardtown, MD |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.31528, -76.55000 |
| Airport | St. Mary's County Regional |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | James Dayton |
| Model | Pit Bull JD-3 |
| 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 improper flare during the landing.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated he was "crow hopping" down the runway in the amateur-built Pit Bull JD-3 gyrocopter, practicing landing and taking off. During one of the landings, he did not control the rate of descent, and the gyrocopter "settled" hard on the runway. During the impact, the left main landing gear collapsed and the gyrocopter rolled onto its left side, substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the gyrocopter. Additionally, he reported 2 hours of flight experience in a similar gyrocopter, 8 months prior to the accident. The pilot did not hold a rotorcraft-gyroplane rating.
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.