Amateur-built AIR COMM. 532 ELITE accident near Indian Rks Bch, Florida, May 2, 1990
On May 2, 1990 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built AIR COMM. 532 ELITE (gyroplane), registered N70319, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indian Rks Bch, Florida. 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
LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE OVERHEATED ENGINE CAUSED BY A SEPARATED LIQUID COOLANT LINE WHICH ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO DRAIN, RESULTING IN THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1990 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Indian Rks Bch, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AIR COMM. 532 ELITE AIR COMM.
- Registration
- N70319 · no longer on the register · serial 0459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLT ABOUT 500 FT OFFSHORE, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG COOLANT & OIL TEMPERATURE BEGAN RISING. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE BEACH BUT WAS UNABLE, & LANDED JUST OFFSHORE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR MAST SEPARATED. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A LIQUID COOLANT LINE SEPARATED FROM THE RADIATOR, DUE TO VIBRATION. THIS ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO DRAIN. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, THERE WAS NO AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE NOR ENG & ACFT LOGBOOKS. THE PLT HELD A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE BUT IT NOR HIS PLT LOGBOOK WAS ENDORSED AUTHORIZING SOLO FLT.
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: 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from PIE, 8 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 N70319 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.