Amateur-built AR-1KC accident near Sarasota, Florida, February 20, 2022
On February 20, 2022 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 2019 amateur-built AR-1KC (gyroplane), registered N65PC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota/Bradenton Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper control input during an aborted takeoff procedure, which resulted in a main rotor blade contacting the vertical stabilizer, a loss of control, and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2022 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Sarasota/Bradenton Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AR-1KC, built 2019
- Registration
- N65PC · registry record · serial 0038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll, she felt a “shudder” just before the gyrocopter became airborne. She immediately aborted the takeoff and reduced power with the aft cyclic still applied. The gyrocopter entered a steep nose-high attitude, and a main rotor blade struck the top of the vertical stabilizer. The gyrocopter departed the left side of the runway and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. Also, the nosewheel fractured and separated from the airframe. Postaccident examination of the flight controls and the fractured nosewheel revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 496 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 358 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 192 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 9, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,232 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914UL (piston); 192 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,006 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from SRQ
Weather report (METAR): SA 20/02/2022 19:53-> METAR KSRQ 201953Z 10007KT 050V120 10SM CLR 27/09 A3019
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2023. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Srq Surveillance Video | AVI file | Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Materials Lab Factual Email Report | 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.
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.