Safety Investigation Report of an accident to experimental gyrocopter MTOsport, LY-MTQ, that occurred on 26 May 2023 in Bistrampolis manor, Kučiai village, Panevėžys district, Lithuania, has been published
On 26 May 2023 at 13.48 hrs the experimental gyrocopter MTOsport, registration marks LY-MTQ, piloted by a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, took off from the Rojūnai aerodrome for the route flight. On the last leg of the route towards Rojūnai aerodrome, while flying past Bistrampolis manor at low altitude, the gyroplane hit trees growing in the park and crashed in the park territory. The pilot was fatally injured. The gyrocopter was destroyed.
The accident was caused by a loss of control of the gyroplane's flight path during a low-altitude maneuver (being in the avoided area of the height/velocity diagram), that was not required for normal flight. A contributing factor to the loss of control was the downwind turn, which resulted in a significant reduction in rotor lift. Although maximum engine thrust was applied at the last moment, there was insufficient time and altitude to recover to normal flight attitude.
Safety investigation report in English can be found here.