Amateur-built 532 accident near Early, Texas, April 24, 1993
On April 24, 1993 at about 1:12 pm local time, a amateur-built 532 (gyroplane), registered N6147N, was destroyed in an accident near Early, Texas (Ground Loop airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT PORPOISE. A FACTOR WAS THE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED TRIM SPRING
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1993 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Early, Texas · Ground Loop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 532
- Registration
- N6147N · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS HOMEBUILT GYROPLANE ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT. DUE TO THE LOW CEILINGS AND HIGH WINDS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RESTRICT HIS MORNING TRAINING SESSION TO GROUND RUNS AND SHORT HOPS OVER THE RUNWAY. DURING THE FIFTH LOW FLIGHT, THE GYROPLANE WAS OBSERVED HIGHER OVER THE GROUND THAN ON ANY OF HIS PREVIOUS RUNS, AND AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, FULL POWER WAS HEARD BEING APPLIED AND A STEEP CLIMB ESTABLISHED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER TURNING DOWNWIND, WHILE STILL OPERATING AT FULL TAKEOFF POWER, A PROGRESSIVE PORPOISING LIKE OSCILLATION DEVELOPED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE GYROPLANE WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING RAPIDLY TUMBLING END OVER END UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND A TREE LINE. THE TRIM SPRING USED TO PROVIDE SENSITIVITY AND STABILITY TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM WAS FOUND OUT OF ADJUSTMENT
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: student
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 760 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:10 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; not recorded at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from SEP, 42 miles away
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.