Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. OH-58C accident near Fresno, California, June 23, 2008
On June 23, 2008 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. OH-58C (helicopter), registered N912HP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fresno, California. 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 loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of a second stage compressor blade.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2008 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. OH-58C
- Registration
- N912HP · registry record · serial 71-20679
- 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 reported that he had filled the spray tanks with water and had lifted off from a platform on the back of a truck when he heard three loud noises followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a hovering autorotation to the landing platform; however, was only able to maneuver the forward portion of the helicopter over the platform. Subsequently, the helicopter slid off the platform and impacted the ground tail boom first, resulting in structural damage to the tail boom and fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed that 15 third stage compressor vanes were fractured near the root and had separated. The majority of the separated vanes were located in the lower compressor case half. The remaining attached vanes were bent over in the direction of engine rotation. A single second stage compressor vane located in the lower case halve was fractured near the root and had liberated. Multiple third and fourth stage compressor blades had leading edge damage. One second stage vane airfoil was separated and the area of separation was found consistent with high cycle fatigue (HCF). An additional second stage vane airfoil exhibited a crack, consistent with HCF near the root, but it did not separate. A Semi-quantitative x-ray energy dispersive analysis (XEDA) revealed deposits at the suction side vane root were consistent with oxidized braze alloy, indicating the braze alloy was exposed during engine operation. It was also found that the chemistry, microstructure and hardness of the second stage vanes were consistent with component specifications.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff
- Landing area undershoot during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,823 hours in all; 1,606 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,823 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,047.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 2008; 20.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63-A720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fresno CA at 5:42 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KFAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.