# Accident 20230325013869A: Larry F Preiss AR-1, Gainsville, GA, March 25, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 25, 2023, 14:00 local time
- Place: Gainsville, GA
- Airport: Lee Gilmer Memorial
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4156° N, 83.7678° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4156&lon=-83.7678&mi=10
- Aircraft: N47AR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47AR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Larry F Preiss AR-1 (registry code 05640KX, https://openairdocs.org/model/larry-f-preiss-ar-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 914UL (registry code 55553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LARRY F PREISS AR-1
- Reported engine: ROTAX 914UL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230325013869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 25, 2023, ABOUT 1400 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMERICAN RANGER AR-1, GYROPLANE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT.

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THEY WERE OUTSIDE WHEN THEY HEARD A LOUD CRASH OVER AT THEIR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE. THEY CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED THE GYROPLANE WAS IN THE NEIGHBORS COW PASTURE.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE GYROPLANE COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE, AND IT WAS ENTANGLED IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, MAST, AND FUSELAGE. THE GYROPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT OF THE POWERLINE. THE POWERLINES EXTENDED ACROSS THE GYROPLANE LINE OF FLIGHT AND WAS ABOUT 75 FT IN HEIGHT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. ALL FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES WERE LOCATED AT THE WRECKAGE SITE. THE GYROPLANE WAS ON 345° HEADING. THE ROTOR HEAD AND PART OF THE MAST WAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE MAIN FUSELAGE. BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE ROTOR HEAD AND BUCKLED THROUGHOUT THE SPAN OF THE BLADES. THE TAIL PLANE BROKE AWAY FROM THE KEEL AND WAS LOCATED ABOUT 15 FT IN FRONT OF THE COCKPIT. THE RUDDER WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TAILPLANE AND LOCATED ABOUT 10 FT FORWARD OF THE TAILPLANE.

THE ENGINE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE AND APPEARED INTACT. ALL THREE PROPELLER BLADES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE. NO SIGNS OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WERE EVIDENT ON THE ENGINE. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION.

THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE WILL TAKE PLACE INCLUDING AN ENGINE RUN IF POSSIBLE. THE WITNESS STATED THEY ONLY HEARD THE ACCIDENT AND REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING BUT MAY HAVE BEEN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS CRASHING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA23FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA163), Mar 25, 2023: Larry F Preiss AR-1 (N47AR), Gainesville, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to detect water-contaminated fuel that resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent impact with a wire and terrain during an attempted…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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