Bell TH-1L accident near Galax, Virginia, August 1, 1990
On August 1, 1990 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Bell TH-1L (helicopter), registered N152RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galax, Virginia. It was a business flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF A COMPRESSOR STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1990 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Galax, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell TH-1L
- Registration
- N152RR · registry record · serial 157845
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS AERIAL SPRAYING AT 100 AGL. THE AIRSPEED WAS 33 MPH. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PLT DID AN AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN TREES. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,698 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,739 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 20, 1990; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ranger Helicopters Services
The flight
- Departed from: HLX Hillsville VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from ROA, 68 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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.