Amateur-built AUTOGYRO CAVALON accident near Oak Island, North Carolina, November 17, 2017
On November 17, 2017 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built AUTOGYRO CAVALON (gyroplane), registered N470CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Oak Island, North Carolina (Cape Fear Rgnl Jetport/Howie F airport). 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 partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2017 · about 3:00 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Oak Island, North Carolina · Cape Fear Rgnl Jetport/Howie F · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AUTOGYRO CAVALON NO SERIES, built 2012
- Registration
- N470CH · no longer on the register · serial V00015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and flight instructor were conducting a flight review in the pilot’s experimental gyroplane. Both reported that the engine start, run up, and takeoff were normal. About 100 ft above ground level, they increased throttle to full power, which engaged the turbocharger. Immediately after, there was a rapid loss of engine power from 5,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm, and they were unable to maintain flight. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and made a 180° turn back toward the runway but was unable to reach the runway at the completion of the turn. The aircraft landed hard in the grass, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and disposed of; therefore, no additional examination of the engine was conducted, and the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 535 hours in all; 218 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 25, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 330 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 217 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 4, 2017; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914UL (piston); 216 hours total
- Operator: Aic Recycling LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SUT Oak Island NC at 3:00 pm
- Destination: SUT Oak Island NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,505 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ILM, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Profile View of Gyrocopter
Photo 2 – View of Damage to Landing Gear Strut
Photo 3 – View of Compression Damage to Engine Control Quadrant
Photo 4 – View of Damage to Airframe Aft of Engine CompartmentThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 15, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot & Flight Instructor Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_instructor and Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array_ Damage | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N470CH: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Rotax 914UL 305 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cape Fear Regional Jetport/Howie Franklin Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,759 since 1982 · 304 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,120 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA18LA027.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.