Amateur-built B8M accident near Hartselle, Alabama, March 16, 1991
On March 16, 1991 at about 8:05 pm local time, a amateur-built B8M (gyroplane), registered N6572K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartselle, Alabama (Rountree Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR BEARING BLOCK BY THE OWNER/PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1991 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Hartselle, Alabama · Rountree Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B8M
- Registration
- N6572K · no longer on the register · serial S-223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE GYROCOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS NOT RATED IN GYROCOPTER'S HAD BUILT AND DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE GYROCOPTER. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RETAINER WASHER WAS MISSING FROM THE MAIN ROTOR BEARING BLOCK ASSEMBLY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,300 hours in all; 250 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 275 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:31 pm from HSV, 18 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.
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.