Air Command 532 accident near Petersburg, Michigan, July 10, 2014
On July 10, 2014 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Air Command 532 (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Petersburg, Michigan (Lada Airport). 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 noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the gyroplane following a total loss of engine power due to a loose spark plug.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2014 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, Michigan · Lada Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Command 532, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Uknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who had an expired student pilot certificate, was conducting a personal local area flight in the unregistered amateur-built gyroplane. An acquaintance of the pilot reported that the pilot had arrived at the departure airport with the gyroplane on a trailer; however, the pilot did not mention that he intended to fly that evening. There were no witnesses to the accident flight. The gyroplane wreckage was discovered the following morning in a potato field about 1/4 mile east of the departure airport. A postaccident examination of the gyroplane did not reveal any airframe or flight control anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. One of the main rotor blades had separated from the mast hub assembly; however, the observed damage to the rotor blade was consistent with ground impact. Examination of the two-cylinder, two-stroke, engine revealed that the forward spark plug was loose and could be removed by hand. No additional preimpact anomalies were noted with the engine that would have prevented its normal operation. It is likely that the loose spark plug resulted in a loss of cylinder compression and a total loss of engine power. During the subsequent forced landing, the gyroplane impacted terrain and tumbled about 30 ft. The wreckage debris path was consistent with an uncontrolled collision with terrain. A review of aircraft registry records established that the amateur-built gyroplane did not have an airworthiness certificate or registration number. Further, there was no maintenance documentation for the gyroplane. The pilot did not possess a valid pilot certificate; his student certificate had been expired for more than 9 years. Additionally, a pilot logbook was not located during the investigation, which precluded a review of the pilot's recent flight experience and total time in the accident gyroplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7MI5 Petersburg MI
- Destination: 7MI5 Petersburg MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from DUH, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on July 6, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum of Conversation (FAA Inspector Larry Krasniewski) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement (Larry Krasniewski) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement (Richard Anderson) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Conversation -- Duane Hunn (Popular Rotorcraft Association) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Pilot Registry Info | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Reports | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.