N419LBTimothy Knapp CAVALON · 2018

On October 18, 2021, about 1534 central daylight time, an AutoGyro Cavalon gyroplane, N419LB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stroud, Oklahoma. The pilot was fatally injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A witness reported that the pilot purchased the gyroplane in January 2020 and has been undergoing flight lessons. Two days before the accident was the pilot’s first solo flight. On the day of the accident, the witness observed the gyroplane positioned heading north on a 300-yard long, field. The witness stated the wind was gusting from the south, which was a tailwind. The pilot added full engine power and the gyroplane started its takeoff roll toward the north. However, the gyroplane never lifted off the ground and impacted a barbed wire fence at the end of the field. The witness proceeded toward the accident site, and he observed that the pilot was ejected from the gyroplane. The gyroplane came to rest upright with the engine still running. After calling for help, he turned the engine off via cockpit controls.

The pilot’s flight instructor reported that the pilot underwent about 20 total hours of flight training in about a year. The pilot did not live locally to the training facility so he would fly a few hours at a time with large gaps in between. The pilot’s last flight lesson occurred about 3 months prior to the accident. According to the flight instructor, the pilot insisted on moving the gyroplane home so he could fly it more. The flight instructor informed the pilot that he was not ready for solo flight and encouraged the pilot to find another instructor for continued training. The pilot said he had an instructor “lined up,” but did not mention who it was.

The nearest weather reporting station was about 7 nautical miles northwest of the accident site. At the time of the accident, wind was from 160° at 8 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

The first identified point of impact was a barbed wire fence on the upslope side of an open field. About 100 ft beyond the fence were striations in the dirt consistent with rotor blade strikes. About 25 ft beyond the striations, the gyroplane came to rest upright, and parallel to the fence line.

All major components remained attached to the gyroplane. A large hole was observed in the front windscreen, otherwise, the cabin area remained mostly intact. The seatbelts remained secured to the airframe, and they were not clasped. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to their respective flight control surfaces. The rotor head was bent aft about 45°, and both rotor blades remained attached at the hub. One blade was bent down at the root, and the second blade was fractured and separated about midspan. The propeller blades on the engine remained attached at the hub. One blade was fractured at the root and the other two were fractured about midspan. The propeller blade fragments were scattered throughout the debris field. Striations consistent with barbed wire fencing were noted along the left and right landing gear struts. A portion of wire was wedged at the top of the gear struts where they connect to the fuselage.

The AutoGryo Cavalon Pilot Operating Handbook states under Environmental Limitations “Maximum tailwind component for take-off and landing…5 knots”.

The pilot did not have a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed his autopsy. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident. The autopsy identified mild atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries and cerebral vasculature. Concentric heart muscle thickening was present, with a normal heart weight. The autopsy did not identify other significant natural disease. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner detected methamphetamine and the methamphetamine metabolite amphetamine in heart blood.

The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory also performed toxicological testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot. Methamphetamine was identified in urine and at 979 ng/mL in femoral blood. Amphetamine was identified in urine and at 75 ng/mL in femoral blood. Phenylpropanolamine and pseudoephedrine were detected in urine but not in femoral blood. Delta-9-THC (commonly known as THC) was identified in urine and at 2.6 ng/mL in femoral blood. The THC metabolite 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC was identified in urine but not in femoral blood. The THC metabolite carboxy-delta-9-THC was identified in urine and at 6.1 ng/mL in femoral blood. Tamsulosin was detected in urine and femoral blood.

Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant drug. Amphetamine is a metabolite of methamphetamine and is also a central nervous system stimulant. Both methamphetamine and amphetamine are available as prescription medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, and occasionally obesity; each may also be a metabolite of certain other medications. Methamphetamine and amphetamine are Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule II controlled substances, with a high potential for abuse and dependence. At low doses used as part of appropriate medical treatment, the drugs may improve reaction time, cognitive function, and fatigue, but may cause people to make higher-risk choices. At higher doses, the drugs may have a variety of impairing effects on psychomotor function, cognition, and perception. The drugs typically carry warnings that they may impair the ability to engage in potentially hazardous activities such as driving a motor vehicle. Such impairment can result from drug or withdrawal effects. Both methamphetamine and amphetamine are considered “do not issue/do not fly” medications by the FAA.

Delta-9-THC, commonly known as THC, is the primary psychoactive chemical in cannabis and hashish, derived from the cannabis plant. THC is commonly smoked or ingested recreationally by users seeking mind-altering effects. It may also be used medicinally to treat illness-associated nausea and appetite loss. It is present as an undeclared contaminant in some commercial cannabidiol (CBD) extracts and oils that may be used by a variety of routes for a variety of reasons. In the body, THC is metabolized mainly to the psychoactive chemical 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC, which is then further metabolized to the non-psychoactive chemical carboxy-delta-9-THC. Psychoactive effects of THC vary depending on the user, dose, and route of administration, and may impair motor coordination, reaction time, decision making, problem solving, and vigilance. THC is a DEA controlled substance, and the FAA considers it unsuitable for flying, regardless of state cannabis laws.