Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a loss of altitude and necessitated a sudden descent to unsuitable terrain.
NTSB analysis
The solo student gyroplane pilot reported that he "was flying behind the power curve," and the gyroplane lost altitude. He added that he couldn't tell if there were power lines ahead and decided to conduct a "hard vertical de[s]cent landing." The terrain was uneven, and the gyroplane rolled onto its side during landing. The student added that, before he decided to land, he got distracted for a few seconds and descended below a safe altitude.
The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor, fuselage, and empennage.
The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA273 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 5, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Calhoun, Georgia
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built ELA ECLIPSE 10
- N-number
- N533EA
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Year built
- 2017
- 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.