Amateur-built ADVENTURER accident near Yelm, Washington, October 23, 2000
On October 23, 2000 at about 11:50 pm local time, a amateur-built ADVENTURER (gyroplane), registered N567AW, was destroyed in an accident near Yelm, Washington. 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
A main rotor blade strike (impact) with both a pusher propeller blade and the rudder during an unknown phase of operation resulting in a loss of control and uncontrolled descent to terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2000 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Yelm, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ADVENTURER
- Registration
- N567AW · no longer on the register · serial 5107-636D4
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the gyroplane flying over his residence approximately 300 feet above ground. The witness reported that he waved to the pilot and 'the pilot waved back' and further reported that '...seconds later he [the witness] observed the rear of the gyroplane swaying back and forth and parts falling off the rear portion of the aircraft....' The gyroplane descended steeply to the ground and a post crash fire consumed much of the wreckage. Onsite examination by an FAA inspector determined that the wreckage was confined to a relatively small area with the exception of a diagonal section from the upper portion of the rudder, and one of the propeller's composite blades. These two items were located approximately 150 to 200 feet from the ground impact site. There was evidence of main rotor blade impact on both the separated propeller blade and rudder section. The inspector reported no control discontinuity at the accident site. The gyroplane did not have a horizontal stabilizer.
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: rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honda CAM 100 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8WA0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 142°F (61°C), dew point 109°F (43°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from OLM, 13 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.