Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Vienna, Georgia, May 17, 2005
On May 17, 2005 at about 2:13 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N1701L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vienna, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the owner/pilot mechanic's improper balancing of the modification to engine crankshaft which resulted in an overload failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2005 · about 2:13 pm local time
- Place
- Vienna, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N1701L · registry record · serial 4176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While flying at 3,500 feet the pilot noticed that the engine was losing power and vibrating. The pilot stated that he shut the engine off and decided to make an emergency landing. The pilot first attempted to make it to a crop duster airstrip, but could not, and decided to attempt a landing on the highway. The airplane landed on a westerly heading, veered off the highway, hit an embankment and rotated 180-degrees to the left and came to rest on an easterly heading. Examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft was broken just behind the front main bearing before the crankshaft exits the engine and attaches to the propeller. The post-accident examination revealed that the crankshaft had an extension between it and the propeller in order for it to clear the cowling. Maintenance records showed that on May 3, 2005, the propeller extension was found to be out of true and the shaft, propeller and spinner combination were balanced. At the accident site, it was observed that washers were affixed to the back of the propeller spinner and the propeller spinner contained voids in the fiberglass. It was also noted that the crankshaft broke approximately 8.2 hours after the shaft, propeller and spinner combination were balanced.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,261 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 226 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2005; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Chevrolet Covair (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RYY Marietta GA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: VLD Valdosta GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KABY, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1701L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL05CA083.