Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H N3053Q
4 November 2023 · Firebaugh, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 November 2023 at about 19:00 local time, a Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H registered N3053Q, operated by West Valley Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Firebaugh, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Firebaugh, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Firebaugh (F34)
- Coordinates
- 36.8600, -120.4645
- Aircraft
- Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H
- Registration
- N3053Q
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1966
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- West Valley Aviation Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR24LA030
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
An on-ground fuel fire for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive thermal damage.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter caught fire shortly after the first start of the day; the pilot shut down the helicopter, exited, and called 911. The fire originated on the left side of the helicopter where the fuel shutoff valve is located, on the airframe side of the firewall. The helicopter sustained extensive thermal damage in the cargo area. The fuel shutoff valve and associated fuel lines were destroyed. Maintenance personnel stated that they thought one of the inlet fuel lines had come loose and sprayed fuel, which ignited and started the fire; however, no such evidence to support or disprove this theory survived the fire. The last annual inspection was signed off about three and a half months before the accident. Maintenance personnel checked the fuel lines on the airframe side to the fuel shutoff valve with no issues noted in the maintenance log.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 2020 | Arrow-Falcon Exporters UH-1H | Coalinga, California, United States | Guardian Helicopters Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H | Stockton, California, United States | P J Helicopters Inc | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 2023 | Supernal SUP83-1 | California City, California, United States | Supernal, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Brawley, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 2023 | Cessna 172 | Watsonville, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 2023 | Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & ASH 26 E | Williams, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Bell 407 | Cabazon, California, United States | Air Shasta Rotor & Wing Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Supernal SUP83-1 | California City, California, United States | Supernal LLC | No injuries | - |