Mesa, AZ, USA
N546SW
Wessel Vortex
The gyrocopter collided with high vegetation and rough terrain during a forced autorotation following the in-flight separation of a propeller blade. The pilot reported that the muffler's mounting strap broke during cruise flight, which caused one composite pusher propeller blade to separate. The pilot autorotated to a forced landing in a ravine. During touchdown the gyrocopter rolled over upon impacting 5-foot-high bushes.
On September 1, 2007, about 1546 mountain standard time, an experimental Wessel Vortex, N546SW, made a forced landing in rough terrain about 4 miles north of the Falcon Field airport, Mesa, Arizona. The private pilot was the owner and operator of the homebuilt gyrocopter, and it was substantially damaged upon rolling over during impact with 5-foot-high brush in a ravine. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Mesa about 1445. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that during cruise flight he heard a loud noise and felt a vibration. Thereafter, the rotorcraft lost power when one of the pusher propeller blades separated, and he autorotated. The pilot additionally reported an examination of the engine assembly revealed that the muffler's mounting strap had failed, and this event resulted in the subsequent separation of one composite propeller blade.
Failure of the muffler's mounting strap and subsequent loss of engine power due to propeller blade separation during cruise flight. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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