Amateur-built RAF 2000 accident near Newberg, Oregon, August 3, 2002
On August 3, 2002 at about 2:30 am local time, a amateur-built RAF 2000 (gyroplane), registered N73GK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberg, Oregon (Chehalem Airpark 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 pilot's inadequate compensation (excessive altitude) for crosswind conditions resulting in the gyroplane's rotors contacting the ground. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2002 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Newberg, Oregon · Chehalem Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RAF 2000
- Registration
- N73GK · registry record · serial H2-00-11-478
- 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 RAF 2000 gyroplane was executing a landing to runway 25 at a small airport with strong gusty winds out of the north. As the gyroplane was slowing, and about six feet above ground, a gust of wind rapidly rolled the aircraft left about its longitudinal axis and the rotor disk struck the runway surface. The aircraft then impacted terrain and came to rest damaging the rotor assembly and pylon. The pilot reported that he should have been lower (4 feet above ground vice 6 feet) and should have given himself a longer final in order to have more time to set up for the crosswind conditions.
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; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 374 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 314 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 91 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 4, 2002; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 17S Newberg OR at 1:30 am
- Destination: 17S
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,285 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from MMV, 9 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.