Hall B-80M accident near Waterford, Connecticut, September 1, 1987
On September 1, 1987 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Hall B-80M (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N180RH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waterford, Connecticut (Waterford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 1, 1987 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Waterford, Connecticut · Waterford
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hall B-80M, amateur-built
- Registration
- N180RH · registry record · serial RCH-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GYROCOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO TOUCH DOWN AND BECOME AIRBORNE AGAIN. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE IT WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH DOWN, WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID HIS RIGHT CONTACT LENS WASBOTHERING HIM AND HE COULD NOT SEE THROUGH IT VERY WELL. HE STATED THAT ALTHOUGH HE THOUGHT HE WAS TOO HIGH AND CONSIDERED A GO-AROUND, HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE LANDING BECAUSE OF THE CONTACT LENS PROBLEM. HE SAID WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN HE SWERVED TO AVOID BUSHES AND A ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND SEVERING THE MAST.
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: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 344 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318GX (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B8 at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 7B8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 1,950 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.