Dan Grochowski, age 38, owner of 3-D Machining died Friday in a crash of his experimental gyrocopter. 3-D Machining has been making X Factory parts for almost 3 years. All of our E-Speed parts and many parts for the X-5 have been made personally by Dan.

Dan opened 3-D Machining to manufacture a gyrocopter of his own design and sold several to customers around the United States. Every time we go to 3-D to work on X-Factory parts, there are gyrocopters around the shop in various stages of assembly. During that time, 3-D’s business expanded steadily with the addition of new machines and more employees.

On August 11, Dan crashed a different gyrocopter into the Maumee River, but he emerged unhurt. Not deterred, Dan continued to build and fly gyrocopters. On September 21, Grochowski was testing a new model on its first flight when employees on the ground observed the rotor come apart from the copter and it crashed from a height of several hundred feet.

We had recently placed an order with 3-D for another batch of E-Speed parts and they were scheduled for production this week. Of course, at this time, we are not concerned with that production schedule, and our hearts and sympathies are with the Grochowski family. Dan did excellent work at reasonable prices in a timely fashion, and that combination is always hard to find. This is a real loss for the X Factory Family.

We are indebted to the Toledo Blade for the photograph. Full details on the crash can be found here.