Bell UH-1H accident near Frenchville, Pennsylvania, May 16, 2000
On May 16, 2000 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Bell UH-1H (helicopter), registered N52AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frenchville, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Foreign object damage to the compressor and turbine sections of the engine, which resulted in a loss of power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2000 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Frenchville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1H · all UH-1Hs on the register
- Registration
- N52AG · registry record · serial 70-15746
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was on its fourth spray mission of the day, and the pilot's 51st spray mission for the season, when the accident occurred. The helicopter returned from the third mission, was refueled, reloaded, and departed. The helicopter then crashed a couple of minutes after takeoff in a wooded area. The weather was clear at the time of the accident. Main-rotor blade, and tail-rotor blade damage was consistent with low rotor rpm at impact. Examination of the transmission revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. Examination of the engine revealed that the compressor and turbine sections of the engine had been exposed to a large amount of aluminum from an unknown source prior to impacting the trees.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,715 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,323 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 29, 1999; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE PA at 10:57 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from UNV, 33 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.