# Accident 20030515010309A: Agusta A109E, Harbor Creek, PA, May 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2003, 08:15 local time
- Place: Harbor Creek, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BAQA
- Location: 42.0819° N, 80.1761° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0819&lon=-80.1761&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7YL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7YL-2013-05-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Agusta A109E (registry code 0260101, https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-a109e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2K1 (registry code 60055, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2k1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA A109E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,620 total, 120 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030515010309A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT WROTE, "WHILE LEVELING OFF AT 700 FT AGL I FELT A VIBRATION IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM. AFTER CONFIRMING ALL CONTROL RESPONSES WERE NORMAL, I EXECUTED AN UNEVENTFUL PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. AFTER SHUTDOWN, I FOUND DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE TAIL ROTOR AND A DENT IN A MAIN ROTOR BLADE. AFTER SOME ON-THE-SPOT INVESTIGATING, IT WAS DETERMINED THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A FLASHLIGHT THAT WAS LEFT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE FLASHLIGHT WAS NEVER FOUND."

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC03LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA110), May 15, 2003: Agusta A109E (N7YL), Harbor Creek, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight inspection, during which he failed to remove a flashlight from the tailboom strake. A factor was the pilot's attention be diverted by a mechanic during the preflight…

## Other reports on N7YL (1)

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

- [Accident 20051007027709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051007027709A), Oct 7, 2005: Agusta A109E (N7YL), Smethport, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Further investigation by this office revealed that on October 7, 2005, at 2342 eastern daylight time, an augusta 109E, N7YL, operated by cj systems…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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