# Accident 20260217000589A: Tabor W Coates AR-1, Kissimmee, FL, February 17, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 17, 2026, 12:20 local time
- Place: Kissimmee, FL
- Airport: Kissimmee Gateway
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.2876° N, 81.4356° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2876&lon=-81.4356&mi=10
- Aircraft: N220SM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N220SM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Tabor W Coates AR-1 (registry code 05638S1, https://openairdocs.org/model/tabor-w-coates-ar-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TABOR W COATES AR-1
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 409 total, 36 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA119) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260217000589A

## Narrative

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

PRIVATE AND SPORT PILOT (WITH GYROPLANE ENDORSEMENT) RATED PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART RUNWAY 15 AT KISM IN AN EXPERIMENTAL (OPERATING AMATEUR-BUILT) AR-1 GYROPLANE.  AT APPROXIMATELY 55 KNOTS THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY.  AT APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE, COMING TO REST ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS THE TAIL SECTION WAS DESTROYED, AND BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND DRIVETRAIN WERE DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT EGRESSED THE AIRCRAFT WITH MINOR INJURIES TO HIS HAND.

## 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 ERA26LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA119), Feb 17, 2026: Tabor W Coates AR-1 (N220SM), Kissimmee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to obtain the proper rotor rpm during the takeoff roll which resulted in a loss of control.

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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