Sycamore Accident

[CrashLab]

Good Day All

I am currently involved with the accident investigation on a Sycamore gyrocopter - ZU-EUI in South Africa.

The dual brackets attaching the rotor-head assembly (in this case a 33ft aluminium rotor conversion from a 30ft) fractured in flight. The pilot and passenger survived the forced landing. I found the brackets/plates to be of inferior quality, not only when compared to an intact 'reference set', but also for this (crucial) application. I also noted that no part/serial/batch numbers on these brackets, not on the failed nor on the new. Can anyone on this forum supply me with these number/s and if any exist? Did anyone ever experienced the same type of failure/s?

Coenraad Snyman

Physical Metallurgist
Aircraft Accident Investigator (Coenraad@crashlab.co.za)

[nicow]

Good Day All

I am currently involved with the accident investigation on a Sycamore gyrocopter - ZU-EUI in South Africa.

The dual brackets attaching the rotor-head assembly (in this case a 33ft aluminium rotor conversion from a 30ft) fractured in flight. The pilot and passenger survived the forced landing. I found the brackets/plates to be of inferior quality, not only when compared to an intact 'reference set', but also for this (crucial) application. I also noted that no part/serial/batch numbers on these brackets, not on the failed nor on the new. Can anyone on this forum supply me with these number/s and if any exist? Did anyone ever experienced the same type of failure/s?

Coenraad Snyman

Physical Metallurgist
Aircraft Accident Investigator (Coenraad@crashlab.co.za)

They are very lucky to be alive...That was fast thinking and lots off experience that helped.

[leprechaun]

Eish , pleased to hear they survived , reminds of the accident a few years ago at Rhino Park when the rotor came off ???? , dont know them that well Leprechaun

[leprechaun]

Hi Coenrad you may want to contact Glenn Meyer at Springs , 083 662 6565, he does services on Gyros , hope you come right and resolve the issue leprechaun

[crazydoc]

Sounds like a close call.
How did it effect rotor function and flight?

[Steve_SP]

Hi Coenraad


In this a fairly recent accident - I'm not aware of an accident with ZU-EUI.

The SA CAA accident briefs only go up to Sept 2013 - would this incident be more recent ? I couldn't find anything on the broader WWW either.

If possible can you confirm the the basic info - date & location - thank you.



Regards



Steve

http://gyroaccidents.blogspot.co.uk/