Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper touchdown attitude, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
NTSB analysis
The sport pilot of the gyroplane stated that, upon touchdown, he should have raised the aircraft's nose to reduce airspeed; however, he allowed the nosewheel to contact the runway. He subsequently applied right rudder to maintain runway alignment. Since the nosewheel and rudder were interconnected (the nosewheel did not pivot on a caster), the application of rudder resulted in the gyroplane tipping over on its side, and both the rotor and propeller blades struck the ground. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the gyroplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN17LA302 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 3, 2017
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mentone, Indiana
- Nearest airport
- Mentone (C92)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built MTO SPORT
- N-number
- N571UJ
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Year built
- 2015
- 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.