Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H accident near Firebaugh, California, November 4, 2023
On November 4, 2023 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1966 Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H (helicopter), registered N3053Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Firebaugh, California (Firebaugh 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
An on-ground fuel fire for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive thermal damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 2023 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Firebaugh, California · Firebaugh · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arrow Falcon Exporters UH-1H, built 1966
- Registration
- N3053Q · registry record · serial 66-1104
- 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 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.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,495.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 14, 2023; 70.2 hours since
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell T-53 (turboshaft); 1,385 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: West Valley Aviation INC
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KMAE, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMAE 041853Z AUTO 15004KT 9SM CLR 23/06 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP195 T02280061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Rear View of Helicopter the Day of the Accident
Photograph 2 – Side View of Helicopter the Day of the Accident
Photograph 3 – Left Side of Helicopter Showing Fire Damaged
Photograph 4 – Left Side View of Transmission AreaThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on November 5, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt Helicopter Logbook | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | NTSB Examination Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3053Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Honeywell T-53 9 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Firebaugh Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,279 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA030.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.