Amateur-built SHTTD accident near Montrose, Georgia, February 4, 2013
On February 4, 2013 at about 11:48 am local time, a amateur-built SHTTD (gyroplane), registered N4201S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Montrose, Georgia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the separation of the No. 2 piston connecting rod.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2013 · about 11:48 am local time
- Place
- Montrose, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SHTTD
- Registration
- N4201S · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 15 minutes after takeoff, during cruise flight, the engine's performance began to degrade. Although the flight instructor increased engine power, the engine subsequently lost total power, so he maneuvered the gyroplane for landing in a clearing. During the approach, the main rotor blade impacted power lines. Subsequently, the gyroplane landed hard, rolled over, and came to rest on its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the rotor system, horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. Examination of the engine crankcase revealed a hole near the fuel intake system and the separation of the No.2 piston connecting rod.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: gyroplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,071 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6,940 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 7, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 547 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 271 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 657 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 18, 2012; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,530 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Suburu EJ 25 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DBN Dublin GA at 11:40 am
- Destination: MAC Macon GA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from MCN, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N4201S 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.