Fuel exhaustion Accident Bell UH-1B Iroquois N234SJ,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 308981
 
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Date:Thursday 2 March 2023
Time:16:00 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic UH1 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Bell UH-1B Iroquois
Owner/operator:Porter Flying Services Inc
Registration: N234SJ
MSN: 388
Year of manufacture:1962
Total airframe hrs:8295 hours
Engine model:Lycoming T53-L-13B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Orland, CA -   United States of America
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Agricultural
Departure airport:Chico, CA
Destination airport:Chicoc, CA
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot reported that, during the final run for the aerial application flight, he noticed the engine spooling down. He attempted to land on a nearby road but collided with the terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter or engine that would have precluded normal operation and that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion.

Probable Cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: WPR23LA118
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB WPR23LA118

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
16 October 2003 N234SJ Porter Flying Services, Inc. 0 Durham, California sub

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
11-Jun-2023 07:52 ASN Update Bot Updated

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