NTSB Reports: July 2015

At about 1225 Central time, the gyrocopter was destroyed when it collided with power lines while maneuvering. The solo private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.The gyrocopter had impacted 30-foot-high power lines, breaking two of them. The pilot's headgear showed thermal damage to the faceshield and soot was evident inside of the shield and around the face relief of the helmet, consistent with electrical arcing. The engine appeared to be mostly intact and fuel was present.

Key Takeaways:

• A significant number of accidents involved total or partial loss of engine power, often occurring during takeoff, climb, or cruise, leading to forced landings and subsequent collisions.
• Several incidents resulted from collisions with ground obstacles such as power lines, trees, or terrain, frequently during low-altitude operations or attempted emergency landings.
• Other contributing factors included loss of aircraft control, system malfunctions (e.g., flight controls, landing gear), and human factors such as taxiing errors, environmental conditions, or post-maintenance issues.

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