Air & Space 18A accident near Paducah, Kentucky, April 5, 1987
On April 5, 1987 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Air & Space 18A (gyroplane), registered N6141S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paducah, Kentucky (Farrongton Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1987 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paducah, Kentucky · Farrongton Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air & Space 18A
- Registration
- N6141S · no longer on the register · serial 18-49
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE SPUN THE ROTOR UP TO 350 RPM IN PREPARATION FOR A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF. DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, THE GYROPLANE EXPERIENCED GROUND RESONANCE. THE PLT REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, BUT THE OSCILLATIONS CONTINUED AND THE RT MAIN LDG GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ROTOR SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND TORE LOOSE FROM THE GYROPLANE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT SLIGHT BARELY NOTICEABLE UNDULATIONS EXISTED IN THE PORTION OF THE RWY SURFACE USED DUIRNG THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE FAA APPROVED FLT MANUAL (AFM) FOR THE GYROPLANE CONTAINS NO EMERGENCY OPERATION PROCEDURES FOR GROUND RESONANCE. THE ACFT OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE PLT WAS TAUGHT TO TAKEOFF IF SUFFICIENT ROTOR RPM WAS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF GROUND RESONANCE. THE AFM STATES THAT ANY AIRSPEED MAY BE USED FOR TAKEOFF IF THE ROTOR DOES NOT DECAY BELOW 140 RPM.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,035 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 3,812 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 234 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 4, 1987; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,985 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm
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.
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.