Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain a proper glidepath for landing which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that the gyroplane was too high and too slow during the landing approach. The gyroplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the tail boom. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the gyroplane before the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14CA059 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 10, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Lubbock Executive (F82)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built SPARROWHAWK II
- N-number
- N130SW
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Year built
- 2007
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.