Amateur-built 532 ELITE accident near Davenport, Iowa, July 27, 1987
On July 27, 1987 at about 11:35 pm local time, a amateur-built 532 ELITE (gyroplane), registered N5352, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davenport, Iowa (Davenport airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- July 27, 1987 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · Davenport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 532 ELITE
- Registration
- N5352 · no longer on the register · serial 10328JW
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES LOCATED 1/4 MI NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, OBSERVED THE GYROCOPTER DEPARTING THE DAVENPORT, IA AIRPORT AND TURNING TO THE SOUTHWEST. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MOVING IN AN UP AND DOWN MOTION PRIOR TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE PARTS OF THE GYROCOPTER FLYING OFF. THE GYROCOPTER THEN FELL VERTICALLY INTO A CORNFIELD. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RUDDER WAS STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WHICH SEPARATED FROM ITS MOUNTING. A NEARBY WEATHER REPORTING STATION REPORTED A WIND CHANGE OF NEARLY 80 DEGREES AND WIND GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS DURING THE FLIGHT. LOCAL OPERATORS OF THE SAME TYPE OF GYROCOPTER INDICATED THE 'FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE INFLIGHT AND OVERCONTROL IS POSSIBLE WHEN IN TURBULENT WIND CONDITIONS.' NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES WERE FOUND.
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: 263 hours in all; 13 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 728 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVN at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MLI, 18 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.