History of Flight
On March 25, 2023, at approximately 1352 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built AR-1 gyroplane, registration N47AR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot's wife, he intended to fly early due to forecast wind conditions. He had recently resumed flying and assembled the gyroplane himself, though he met with a mechanic in the weeks prior to ensure the aircraft was in good working condition. He typically departed from Gainesville, flew to Cornelia, Georgia, landed, and then returned.
ADS-B data indicated the gyroplane departed Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (GVL) in Gainesville and flew north, cruising at an altitude of 2,000 ft. The data showed a series of turns in the Gainesville area before terminating.
Wreckage and Impact
The wreckage came to rest on a heading of 345°, approximately 100 yards from a powerline. The powerline, situated on private property, crossed the estimated flightpath at about 50 ft above ground.
The main rotor mast was separated from the fuselage. Both main rotor blades were buckled along their span. A 20-ft section of the powerline was entangled in the rotor head, which had broken from the mast. All push-pull tubes sustained impact damage. The engine remained attached, and all three propeller blades were intact.
All flight control surfaces were found at the site. The tailplane had detached from the keel and lay about 15 ft forward of the cockpit. The rudder separated and was located about 10 ft ahead of the tailplane.
The fuel system was intact with the cap secured. A fuel sample was light green and contained a visible, significant amount of water. Approximately 6 gallons of fuel were drained, and water-finding paste confirmed the presence of water. After settling, visible water was observed in the container.
Engine and Fuel Examination
A detailed engine examination revealed good physical condition. Multiple test runs were performed using both fresh fuel and the contaminated fuel from the gyrocopter. When using the contaminated fuel, the engine initially ran normally until the fuel and water separated, after which it sputtered, lost power, and eventually quit. With fresh fuel, the engine operated normally throughout.
Flight Recorder
An onboard video recording showed that before the descent, the engine was heard surging. Subsequently, the audio consisted primarily of wind and rotor noise. As the gyrocopter descended, engine power seemed to decrease. The gyrocopter approached an open field in what appeared to be a controlled descent, but the landing area was upsloping. A utility pole was visible near the field. Moments later, the gyrocopter struck a powerline, pitched downward rapidly, and impacted the ground.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries and the manner as accident. Postmortem toxicological testing detected no impairing substances.