Gyrocopter Crash and License Revocation | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 2, 2026 · 1m

A flying instructor’s licenses were revoked after a student died during his first solo flight in a high-performance gyrocopter — a crash investigators blamed on inadequate training, lack of supervision, and the instructor’s expired flight review. The instructor, Bernard Russell, accepted the decision and has stopped flying or instructing, following a history of safety concerns. The Civil Aviation Authority is reinforcing regulatory compliance, while industry groups plan updates to certification rules and are urging the public to report unauthorized flights — emphasizing that each case is…