Amateur-built Sparrowhawk accident near Hondo, Texas, May 14, 2005
On May 14, 2005 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Sparrowhawk (gyroplane), registered N8023Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hondo, Texas (Hondo Municipal Aiport airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyrocraft during takeoff. A contributing factor was the failure of the pre-rotator cable.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2005 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hondo, Texas · Hondo Municipal Aiport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sparrowhawk
- Registration
- N8023Y · registry record · serial 2003003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 5,600-hour pilot lost control of the gyrocraft during takeoff and the gyrocraft rolled over onto its left side. The pilot stated that prior to the flight he had adjusted the pre-rotator gear. Examination of the gyrocraft revealed that a worn internal bolt within the pre-rotator cable appeared jammed in the engaged position.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 114 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2005; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ 2.5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDO Hondo TX at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from HDO
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.