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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2005 · about 2:13 pm local time · cases in 2005
- 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
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1701L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Chevrolet Covair · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cobb County Intl/Mccollum Field · departed from
- Valdosta Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Georgia 2,138 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Georgia 8,800 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N1701L 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL05CA083.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.