Amateur-built Rotor Horse accident near Cape Coral, Florida, July 28, 2002
On July 28, 2002 at about 3:02 pm local time, a amateur-built Rotor Horse (gyroplane), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cape Coral, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2002 · about 3:02 pm local time
- Place
- Cape Coral, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rotor Horse
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial STA-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The gyrocopter lost engine power during cruise at 1,200 feet. During the emergency landing in a residential area, the student pilot initiated a flare about 20 feet above the ground to stop forward airspeed to avoid obstacles. The aircraft dropped vertically and landed hard on its gear. Examination revealed the nose wheel was bent aft, the main gear struts were spread outward, and support structures for the tail were broken. An engine examination was not performed, because the owner removed it and stated it was unavailable.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 105 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 60 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth F30 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cape Coral FL at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from RSW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.