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20010529017659A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Ccoptr TOMCATMK5A · Benton, PA · May 29, 2001

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 29, 2001 · 07:18 local
Place
Benton, PA
Phase of flight
To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N25561
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC01LA130
Reported as
Ccoptr TOMCATMK5A
Reported engine
Lycoming VO435*
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
9,800 total8,550 in this make and model54 in the last 90 days
N25561Registered now · Continental Copters-Transworld TOM CAT MARK 5AS/N TC-TWH-1 · Built 1975Airframe modelContinental Copters-Transworld TOM CAT MARK 5AEngine modelLycoming VO-435 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) In may 29, 2001, about 0718 eastern daylight time, a Continental copters tom cat mark 5A (a modified bel 47 helicopter), N25561, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a field in Benton, PA. The certificated commerical pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local aerial application flight conducted under 14 CFR part 137. The pilot stated that the hose used to fill the helicopter's "hopper" with pesticide, became entangled around the right skid. The pilot did not notice the entanglement, and attempted to takeoff. The helicopter rolled right and struck the ground. The main rotor, tailboom, and transmission sustained substantial damage. (.4) on may 29, 2001, about 0718 eastern daylight time, a Continental copters tom cat mark 5A (a modified bell 47 helicopter), N25561, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a field in Benton, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local aerial application flight conducted under 14 CFR part 137. The pilot stated that his assistant used a hose to fill the helicopter's "hopper" with pesticide. The assistant and hose were located on the right side of the helicopter. The pilot fueled and boarded the helicopter from the left side. He then observed that his assistant was clear from the right side, completing paperwork. The pilot started the helicopter, not realizing the hose was stilled attached on the right side. When the pilot attempted to takeoff, about 5-10 feet above the ground, the helicopter rolled right and struck the ground. The main rotor, tailboom, and transmission sustained substantial damage. (.19) on may 29, 2001, about 0718 eastern daylight time, a Continental copters tom cat mark 5A (a modified bell 47 helicopter), N25561, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a field in Benton, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local aerial application flight conducted under 14 CFR part 137. The pilot stated that the hose used to fill the helicopter's "hopper" with pesticide, became entangled around the right skid. The pilot did not notice the entanglement, and attempted to tak eoff. The helicopter rolled right, and struck the ground. The main rotor, tailbeam, and transmission sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) IN MAY 29, 2001, ABOUT 0718 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CONTINENTAL COPTERS TOM CAT MARK 5A (A MODIFIED BEL 47 HELICOPTER), N25561, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD IN BENTON, PA. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERICAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 137. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HOSE USED TO FILL THE HELICOPTER'S "HOPPER" WITH PESTICIDE, BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE RIGHT SKID. THE PILOT DID NOT NOTICE THE ENTANGLEMENT, AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR, TAILBOOM, AND TRANSMISSION SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.4) ON MAY 29, 2001, ABOUT 0718 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CONTINENTAL COPTERS TOM CAT MARK 5A (A MODIFIED BELL 47 HELICOPTER), N25561, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD IN BENTON, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 137. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS ASSISTANT USED A HOSE TO FILL THE HELICOPTER'S "HOPPER" WITH PESTICIDE. THE ASSISTANT AND HOSE WERE LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT FUELED AND BOARDED THE HELICOPTER FROM THE LEFT SIDE. HE THEN OBSERVED THAT HIS ASSISTANT WAS CLEAR FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, COMPLETING PAPERWORK. THE PILOT STARTED THE HELICOPTER, NOT REALIZING THE HOSE WAS STILLED ATTACHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF, ABOUT 5-10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR, TAILBOOM, AND TRANSMISSION SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.19) ON MAY 29, 2001, ABOUT 0718 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CONTINENTAL COPTERS TOM CAT MARK 5A (A MODIFIED BELL 47 HELICOPTER), N25561, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD IN BENTON, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 137. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HOSE USED TO FILL THE HELICOPTER'S "HOPPER" WITH PESTICIDE, BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE RIGHT SKID. THE PILOT DID NOT NOTICE THE ENTANGLEMENT, AND ATTEMPTED TO TAK EOFF. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT, AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR, TAILBEAM, AND TRANSMISSION SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC01LA130Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBenton, PAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a takeoff with a hose still attached and a subsequent dynamic rollover.May 29, 2001 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N25561 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19880810033729ALow Level Operations · Redkey, INOn a spray turn around, crashed after striking a tree. High level of medical drugs in pilot.Aug 10, 1988 · Reported as Bell OH13HMK5A · Destroyed · 1 fatal