Celier Aviation XENON RST accident near Livingston, Texas, July 17, 2015
On July 17, 2015 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2007 Celier Aviation XENON RST (gyroplane), registered N402ED, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Livingston, Texas (Livingston Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control after aborting the takeoff due to a grinding noise coming from the main rotor area, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2015 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Livingston, Texas · Livingston Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Celier Aviation XENON RST NO SERIES, built 2007 · all XENON RSTs on the register
- Registration
- N402ED · registry record · serial CA102871S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff and as the gyroplane was about 1 ft above the ground, he heard a grinding noise originating from the main rotor area directly above him. The pilot reduced the power to idle to abort the takeoff. The gyroplane drifted off the left side of the runway and rolled onto its left side. During postaccident examination of the gyroplane, flight control continuity was established, and no anomalies were noted. An examination of the main rotor head revealed that the top of the prerotation plate, which is a large-diameter, circular metal plate with a gear-toothed outer edge used to prerotate the main rotor blades for takeoff, displayed evidence of preaccident circumferential scoring. An examination of the prerotation drive housing showed evidence of scoring on the upper portion of the opening through which the prerotation plate is driven. The top of the upper housing assembly also displayed evidence of scoring. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the prerotation housing became misaligned, which resulted in the grinding noise reported by the pilot. However, the misalignment of the prerotation housing would not have led to the loss of directional control.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Roll over during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 3,066 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 16, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 83 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 995 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 RST (piston); 83 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00R Livingston TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 50R Lockhart TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,704 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KCXO, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA15LA191.