Hughes TH-55 accident near Midway, Georgia, July 9, 2001
On July 9, 2001 at about 5:11 pm local time, a Hughes TH-55 (helicopter), registered N7053X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midway, Georgia (Liberty County airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factoe was the lack of suitable terrain upon which an emergency landing could be made, which resulted in a rollover upon touchdown in a marshy area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2001 · about 5:11 pm local time
- Place
- Midway, Georgia · Liberty County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes TH-55 · all TH-55s on the register
- Registration
- N7053X · no longer on the register · serial 67-16823
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter lost engine power while spraying insecticide 300 feet above the ground. The pilot was unable to restore power and initiated an emergency descent and autorotative flare. At touchdown, the helicopter leaned to the right in a marshy area and rolled onto its side. The main rotor blades struck the ground. The pilot stated the helicopter had been refueled prior to the flight. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airframe and main rotor blades were bent. The helicopter sustained saltwater submersion damage. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 2,450 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2001; 49.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HI0-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2J2 Hinesville GA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 2J2 Hinesville GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MCN, 116 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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 ATL01TA081.