Amateur-built B8M accident near Clarksville, Arkansas, April 27, 2001
On April 27, 2001 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B8M (gyroplane), registered N36BJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksville, Arkansas (Clarksville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loose control stick on takeoff, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2001 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Arkansas · Clarksville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B8M
- Registration
- N36BJ · no longer on the register · serial 81679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot completed 3 touch-and-go landings in the gyrocraft at the airport. He stated that his 4th takeoff was "normal;" however, as the gyrocraft was climbing through 70 feet, the pilot noticed that the control stick "became difficult to move left and right." The pilot reduced the engine power to idle, and the gyrocraft started to descend to the left. He applied right pressure on the control stick, and the control "suddenly became free;" however, "left and right control was lost and the gyrocopter descended to the left." The gyrocraft impacted terrain at 45-50 mph. The pilot stated that the control stick had become "loose." He added that he could have conducted "more preflight inspection," and "tighten[ed] all adjuster fittings."
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 157 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 235 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 20, 2000; 235 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H35 Clarksville AR at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.