What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 4, 2023, privacy data omitted a Bell UH-1H helicopter caught fire during the startup of a maintenance check.
During the engine startup, it was reported by the pilot that there were no abnormalities. Engine instruments appeared normal. Approximately 30 seconds after startup the pilot observed white smoke billowing out of the back of the helicopter, just behind the transmission toward the back of the cabin at the engine compartment. The pilot verified the engine compartment was on fire and shut down the helicopter and exited the aircraft. The fire continued to burn until it consumed large portions of the helicopter. The aircraft sustained severe fire damage.
There were no reported injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 4, 2023, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A BELL UH-1H HELICOPTER CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE STARTUP OF A MAINTENANCE CHECK.
DURING THE ENGINE STARTUP, IT WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT THAT THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES. ENGINE INSTRUMENTS APPEARED NORMAL. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AFTER STARTUP THE PILOT OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE HELICOPTER, JUST BEHIND THE TRANSMISSION TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CABIN AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PILOT VERIFIED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE AND SHUT DOWN THE HELICOPTER AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE FIRE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL IT CONSUMED LARGE PORTIONS OF THE HELICOPTER. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE.
THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.