1 fatal · Gillespie Sport Copter Vortex · 2004-02-21 · Yuba City, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
LAX04LA132
Event ID
20040223X00221
Type
Accident
Date
2004-02-21
Location
Yuba City, CA, USA
Coordinates
39.123611, -121.605278
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
1
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
1
Aircraft
Make
Gillespie
Model
Sport Copter Vortex
Registration
N96XV
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
a loss of engine power due to the incorrect installation of the fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation, and the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM, which resulted in an inflight loss of control. A factor to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience flying gyrocopters.