Amateur-built B8M accident near Rocklin, California, November 25, 1983
On November 25, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B8M (gyroplane), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rocklin, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rocklin, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B8M · all B8Ms on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial JH-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS OPERATING HIS HOME BUILT, NON-REGISTERED GYROCOPTER AS AN ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. REPORTEDLY, THE ENG LOST POWER DURING FLT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GYROCOPTER WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE ENCOUNTERED CARBURETOR ICING WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER. THE ENG WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CARBURETOR HEAT SYS. ALSO, THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 49 & 41 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, A FLOAT TYPE CARBURETOR COULD ENCOUNTER SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AT THOSE TEMPS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lincoln CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from SAC, 19 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.