Flight testing of the CarterCopters (CC) prototype gyroplane is expected to resume in March pending the completion of a rebuild after a landing accident at Olney, Texas, on 13 December.
The crew was building up to a zero-roll landing, one of the five NASA goals established for the programme, when they landed without lowering the collective. The aircraft landed at 26kt (48km/h), but failed to slow down below 17kt as it slid off the runway.
Extensive damage was done to the nose boom (part of the ballistic parachute recovery system). The rotor was destroyed, the rotor mast damaged, and both rudders were clipped off by the rotor. The right wing was also broken.
Initial analysis of flight test data indicates that failure to reduce the collective angle from 8.5° (at 180 rpm) was the main cause.
At this point, the collective angle should have been reduced to zero, but with the angle maintained on touchdown the rotor was still generating 1,130kg (2,500lb) of lift.
CarterCopters says the pilots operating handbook will be revised to include a new section on fast-stop procedures while taxiing. Revisions to the design will include a shorter nose boom, landing gear modifications, rebuild of the cooling air cowl flap to improve propeller performance and a lighter rotor. This is the CC's third landing accident since September 1998.
Source: Flight International
