A Temperance man who was flying a small homemade aircraft plunged into the Maumee River yesterday afternoon near the I-75 bridge when his gyrocopter got caught in the wind and somersaulted into the water, police said.

The pilot, Daniel Grochowski, 38, the only person onboard, was unhurt.

The crash occurred about 3 p.m., minutes after Mr. Grochowski fueled the propeller-driven, pontoon-mounted craft at Pier 75 Marina, Sgt. William Shaner said.

Mr. Grochowski was taken to shore by a boater with assistance from Toledo police officers. Toledo fire s water-rescue crews and the U.S. Coast Guard also responded.

When officers arrived, Mr. Grochowski was wearing a life jacket that one of his friends in another nearby boat had thrown to him, Sergeant Shaner said.

Once in the water, the single-seat gyrocopter stayed afloat because of its yellow pontoons, albeit upside down.

A police boat dragged the craft to the pier, where it was hoisted to land by a boat lift.

Mr. Grochowski looked on at the pier as his bent and water-battered gyrocopter was lifted from the river. He declined comment.

Witnesses said the craft was moving eastbound along the river as it took off into the wind and then flipped.

Mr. Grochowski s gyrocopter had just passed beneath the I-75 bridge.

David Paetz said that he and his 10-year-old son, Adam, were standing at the pier when the crash occurred.

It seemed like he was taking off, and then all of a sudden you heard a splash, Mr. Paetz of Lambertville said.

Adam said he heard the engine make a grumbling noise before the craft flipped, splashing water almost to the top of the bridge.

First Published August 12, 2007, 11:02 a.m.