Amateur-built M8M accident near Gerald, Missouri, November 7, 1982
On November 7, 1982 at about 4:18 pm local time, a amateur-built M8M (gyroplane), registered N31048, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gerald, Missouri (Hahn Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 7, 1982 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Gerald, Missouri · Hahn Private
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built M8M
- Registration
- N31048 · no longer on the register · serial RJB-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG QUIT ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FLEXIBLE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS DISCONNECTED. THE HOSE CLAMP WAS POSITIONED & TIGHTENED SO THAT THE LINE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE FUEL PUMP FITTING. THE FUEL PUMP TO CRANKCASE SUCTION LINE FITTING WAS BROKEN OFF AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE CARBURETOR HAD A HOLE IN IT JUST BEFORE THE HOSE CLAMP AT THE CARBURETOR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,395 as pilot in command; 6 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 190 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gerald MO at 10:15 am
- Destination: Gerald MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.