Amateur-built RAF-200 accident near Hollister, California, April 18, 1998
On April 18, 1998 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RAF-200 (gyroplane), registered N313EP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollister, California (Hollister airport). 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 failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor in this accident is the pilot's lack of experience in type aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1998 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hollister, California · Hollister · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RAF-200
- Registration
- N313EP · no longer on the register · serial H2-97-8-284
- 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 he felt a strong vibration from the main rotor. He stated that the engine was running fine and opined that the vibration may have been caused by an uncoordinated turn. He further stated that 'he spent too much time trying to find out the source of the vibration and forgot to fly the [aircraft].' At this time he was about 200 feet agl and didn't feel that he had enough time to recover any altitude, so he decided to slow [himself] down by landing in an area of bushes. The aircraft then collided with the terrain. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with single and multiengine land ratings. The pilot reported that he had received approximately 9 hours of dual instruction in helicopters, all in the accident aircraft. This was the pilot's second solo flight in the accident aircraft.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,030 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 960 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ 22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:03 pm
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.