CENTRE HALL, PA, USA
N52910
GROVE AIR COMMAND
The gyroplane took off and flew around a witness's house. It then headed toward the northwest, and collided with a nearby power line. The pilot stated that the last thing he remembered was being blinded by the sun.
On January 27, 1999, about 1720 Eastern Standard Time, a homebuilt Air Command gyroplane, N52910, was substantially damaged when it collided with a power line near Centre Airpark (N16), Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A witness stated that the gyroplane took off from the airpark and flew around the witness's house. It then headed toward the northwest, and collided with a nearby power line. The pilot stated that the last thing he remembered was being blinded by the sun. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, one of the gyroplane's landing gear was found in the vicinity of the power line, while the main wreckage was found about 100 feet to the north.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line. A factor was the sunglare.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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