Amateur-built KB-2 accident near Rosamond, California, February 4, 1992
On February 4, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KB-2 (gyroplane), registered N169RM, was destroyed in an accident near Rosamond, California. It was a personal 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM ADEQUATE TO AVOID FLAPPING. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE RELATED TO THE PILOT'S PERFORMANCE OF AN EXCESSIVELY ABRUPT MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rosamond, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KB-2
- Registration
- N169RM · no longer on the register · serial L169844
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED CIRCLING OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT INITIATED AN ABRUPT TURNING MANEUVER WHILE CHANGING THE EXPERIMENTAL GYROPLANE'S PITCH ATTITUDE. ROTOR RPM DECREASED AND THE BLADES BEGAN EXCESSIVELY FLAPPING. THE BLADES COLLIDED WITH AND SEVERED THE RUDDER AND PROPELLER. THEREAFTER, THE GYROPLANE NOSED DOWN AND DESCENDED (UNCONTROLLED) INTO A CITY STREET.
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: 5,500 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 173 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318A&E/0-100 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.