Amateur-built Choctaw accident near Danville, Kentucky, January 22, 2002
On January 22, 2002 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Choctaw (gyroplane), registered N97CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Kentucky (Stuart Powell Field). 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
Failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 2002 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Kentucky · Stuart Powell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Choctaw
- Registration
- N97CS · no longer on the register · serial 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, a steady stream of dark gray smoke was seen emanating from the homebuilt gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then turned left, climbed, and appeared to be returning to the airport. However, it impacted a field about 1 mile south of the airport. An FAA inspector examined the engine. When he attempted to rotate the crankshaft by hand, a metal binding was heard. Further examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod bearing had seized in the number one cylinder. The non-certificated engine had been removed from an automobile, and installed on the gyrocopter by the pilot.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 175 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2000; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVK Danville KY at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from DVK, 1 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.