Fatal Crash of Gyroplane Immediately After Takeoff

On December 16, 2020, about 1417 MST, an experimental, amateur built, SilverLight AR-1 gyroplane, N261MD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Heber Valley Airport (HCR), Heber, Utah. The pilot received fatal injuries. Multiple witnesses reported observing the gyroplane take off from runway 22. One witness stated that the flight looked “incredibly unstable” the entire time it was airborne. Another witness stated that he saw the gyroplane make an abrupt pull up and a right-hand turn out, with the mast parallel with the ground if not beyond. Multiple witnesses reported the gyroplane in a spin [about its vertical axis] before pitching nose down and descending to the ground. A video recording, taken by a witness at the airport, revealed the gyroplane began a takeoff roll on runway 22. During the roll, the left landing gear and nose wheel lifted off the runway and settled back onto the runway. Shortly after liftoff, the gyroplane pitched nose-up and down multiple times, followed by an abrupt nose-up attitude and an abrupt gain in altitude. About 3 seconds later, the gyroplane banked right, after which it began to descend, rotating about its vertical axis. The gyroplane then pitched nose down and impacted terrain.

ADS-B data recorded the gyroplane as it taxied onto runway 22 at HCR. The data showed the gyroplane initially track down the center of the runway. About 1,700 ft from the beginning of the runway, the gyroplane was off the left side of the runway. About 2,200 ft from the beginning of the runway, the gyroplane turned right about 45°, followed by a left turn of about 20°. The last ADS-B data point indicated the gyroplane was about 427’ northeast of the accident site. The gyroplane came to rest in a concrete reinforced ditch on the north side of a highway that bordered the airport.

According to the pilot’s son, his father owned a side-by-side gyroplane prior to his purchase of the tandem-seat AR-1. He flew the side-by-side for about 2 years then sold it. The son purchased his own side-by-side gyroplane, and his father flew with him for about a year before he purchased the AR-1. The pilot’s son stated that he never saw his father fly in a dramatic pitch up and hard right attitude. Medical records recorded the pilot’s weight at 143 pounds.

According to the manager of SilverLight Aviation LLC, the pilot approached him in June 2019 to inquire about building an AR-1 gyroplane. The manager stated that the owner chose to use a Rotax 915iS engine due to the high altitude at HCR and his desired better performance. After completion of the build, the manager flew the gyroplane for a total of 6 hours, and an employee, who was a pilot and a mechanic, flew it for about 2 hours, then shipped it to HCR. The manager stated that the employee travelled to Utah to assist the owner in reassembling the gyroplane and to show him how it operated with two people. The manager indicated that the pilot was not a certified flight instructor, just a very experienced pilot.

According to the employee, he visited the pilot in Utah for 2 days to help him with set up and familiarization. The first day, they practiced using the prerotator and charging forward with a goal of observing the engine and rotor increasing together, with no flight activities conducted. The second day began about noon, and involved multiple flights. The employee reported that the owner had flight performance issues, including repeated application of excessive throttle, over-controlling the gyroplane, pilot-induced oscillations, and abrupt or aggressive control inputs. The employee reported that on every takeoff he had to tell the owner to reduce power. At the end of the second day, the employee reported to his employer that while the owner showed improvement with his flying skills, he needed additional instruction and transition time; the employee offered the owner additional training time, but the owner declined.

The AR-1 Pilot’s Operating Handbook stated, in part: “The manual is not a substitute for competent theoretical and practical training on the operation of this aircraft. Failure to adhere to its provisions or to take proper flight instruction can have fatal consequences. Minimum pilot weight is 144 pounds (65 Kg) in the front seat. Maximum power at minimum takeoff weight can cause an abrupt climb rate in standard conditions that, if not corrected, may cause climb angles of greater than the placarded maximum. Approximately 80% of maximum takeoff power is considered comfortable for a minimum weight takeoff.”

00:00 Intro
00:07 Witness video
00:53 Witness video, cropped
01:25 Surveillance video #1 and #2
01:57 Surveillance video #3 (with audio)
02:28 Photos
03:20 Airframe & Engine Examination Report
04:59 Electronic Flight Instrument System Device Factual Report
05:32 Investigative records; statements
08:54 POH Excerpts
09:33 Rotax 915iS Datasheet
09:47 Toxicology
10:02 SilverLight employee statement
11:16 Witness statements

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