Amateur-built BUMBLE BEE 500 accident near Titusville, Florida, April 22, 1995
On April 22, 1995 at about 5:10 pm local time, a amateur-built BUMBLE BEE 500, registered N4711G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Titusville, Florida (Rockledge Airpark airport). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, RESULTING IN THE SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOT'S LACK OF QUALIFICATION WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1995 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Rockledge Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BUMBLE BEE 500 BUMBLE BEE
- Registration
- N4711G · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT ATTEMPTED A FLIGHT ALONE IN A GYROCOPTER. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE GYROCOPTER OVERSHOOT THE BASE TO FINAL TURN. THEY SAW THE ROTOR RPM DECREASE, THE GYROCOPTER DEPART CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND CRASH. NO PRE-EXISTING FAILURES OF THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME WERE FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Arrow 500 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X65
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,110 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from TIX, 13 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.
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.