Air & Space 18A accident near Blairstown, New Jersey, July 31, 2001
On July 31, 2001 at about 3:46 pm local time, a Air & Space 18A (gyroplane), registered N6121S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blairstown, New Jersey (Blairstown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with ground resonance for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2001 · about 3:46 pm local time
- Place
- Blairstown, New Jersey · Blairstown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air & Space 18A
- Registration
- N6121S · no longer on the register · serial 1827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the gyroplane taxied into position, and held on the end of the runway. She then engaged the main rotor system and advanced the throttle. She brought the main rotor up to 120 rpm in flat pitch, and then advanced the throttle and changed the pitch on the main rotor blades from ground to flight, after which, the gyroplane entered ground resonance. The pilot reported that she changed the pitch of the main rotor system from flight, back to ground and closed the throttle. Witnesses reported the gyroplane bounced and rocked from side to side, and came to rest on its side. The main rotor system separated from the rotor mast. A two piece friction fit sleeve for main rotor pitch control had separated. There was no evidence of recent wear on the threads in front of the nuts that held the sleeve together. The hydraulic blade dampers had separated from the main rotor blades and were not recovered. The gyroplane had been operated 0.7 hours since the last annual inspection, which had been conducted by the pilot. In addition, she declined to be interviewed by the Safety Board about the accident, and did not report any flight experience in make and model. However she was rated in both airplanes and rotorcraft, and also held flight instructor ratings in those models.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 17,500 as pilot in command; 16,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,739 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2001; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 3:46 pm
- Destination: 1N7 NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from ABE, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.