Agusta A109E accident near Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania, May 15, 2003
On May 15, 2003 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Agusta A109E (helicopter), registered N7YL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania (None airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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 inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2003 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Agusta A109E · all A109Es on the register
- Registration
- N7YL · no longer on the register · serial 11502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During his preflight inspection of the helicopter, the pilot placed a flashlight on the tailboom strake. The pilot's attention was diverted by a mechanic and he failed to remove the flashlight prior to departure. After takeoff, the helicopter experienced a vibration and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. A subsequent inspection of the helicopter revealed the flashlight had damaged the main rotor and tail rotor blades.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,183 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 2,218 as pilot in command; 267 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 6,283 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Turbomeca Arrius 2KI (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Turbomeca Arrius 2KI (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cj Systems
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Harbor Creek PA at 12:10 pm
- Destination: ERI Erie PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from ERI, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N7YL 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.