What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2019, at 1015 PDT, a Bell UH-1H operated by
Guardian helicopters, inc. was performing firefighting activities and working an active fire near the town of Coalinga, CA. The pilot reported he heard a noise and was going to make a precautionary landing. A witness stated that at roughly 300-400? AGL the helicopter began to spin and collided with the ground, resulting in a post impact fire.
Remark:at this time of the investigation we have not be able to determine as to why the engine failed. An engine teardown inspection is in process of being scheduled.
As the FAA filed it
ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019, AT 1015 PDT, A BELL UH-1H OPERATED BY
GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS, INC. WAS PERFORMING FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES AND WORKING AN ACTIVE FIRE NEAR THE TOWN OF COALINGA, CA. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HEARD A NOISE AND WAS GOING TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. A WITNESS STATED THAT AT ROUGHLY 300-400? AGL THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN A POST IMPACT FIRE.
REMARK:AT THIS TIME OF THE INVESTIGATION WE HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE AS TO WHY THE ENGINE FAILED. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN INSPECTION IS IN PROCESS OF BEING SCHEDULED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.