Continental Copters Tom Cat Mark 5A accident near Benton, Pennsylvania, May 29, 2001
On May 29, 2001 at about 11:18 am local time, a Continental Copters Tom Cat Mark 5A (helicopter), registered N25561, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benton, Pennsylvania (None airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a takeoff with a hose still attached and a subsequent dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2001 · about 11:18 am local time
- Place
- Benton, Pennsylvania · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters Tom Cat Mark 5A
- Registration
- N25561 · registry record · serial TCTWH-1
- 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 pilot's 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 boarded the helicopter from the left side, and observed that his assistant was clear from the right side, completing paperwork. The pilot then started the helicopter, not realizing the hose was still attached on the right side. During the takeoff, about 5-10 feet above the ground, the helicopter rolled right and struck the ground.
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,800 hours in all; 8,550 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,820 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2001; 54.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Benton PA at 11:18 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 am from IPT, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N25561 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.