Amateur-built AR-1 accident near Kissimmee, Florida, February 17, 2026
On February 17, 2026 at about 5:05 pm local time, a 2019 amateur-built AR-1 (gyroplane), registered N220SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kissimmee, Florida (Kissimmee Gateway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to obtain the proper rotor rpm during the takeoff roll which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2026 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Kissimmee, Florida · Kissimmee Gateway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AR-1, built 2019
- Registration
- N220SM · registry record · serial 0029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the gyroplane began the takeoff roll and attempted to build rotor rpm. He reported that at rotation, his rotor speed was marginal, and the rotor blades began to flap before contacting the gyroplane’s tail. The pilot then lost control of the gyroplane, and it impacted the runway and rolled onto its side. The fuselage and tail of the gyroplane were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- 300470 during nose over
- 300240 during nose over
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, ASE, gyroplane, SPRT, none, gyroplane
- Flight time: 409.3 hours in all; 36.6 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 14, 2026
- Medical certificate: sport pilot
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 249 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 28, 2025; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 249 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°C, dew point 57°C
- Altimeter: 30.209999 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from ISM, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KISM 171656Z 11011KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP229 T02390139 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA26LA119.