N3171L is a 1996 Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 (balloon) with serial number F8B-493, registered in Topeka, KS. Its FAA registration is valid and runs until Jul 31, 2028; the renewal window opens on Jan 31, 2028. It is powered by an Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG. Its airworthiness certificate is in the standard class (balloon), issued Feb 15, 1996. It is one of 123 FIREFLY 8B-15 aircraft in the FAA registry, 2 of them registered in Kansas. About 61% of them were built after it. The NTSB accident database lists one record for this airframe since 2008, the latest on May 11, 2013.
Registration
- FAA status
- Valid registration
- Expires
- Jul 31, 2028
- Registrant type
- Individual
- Registered owner
- Individual owner, name not shown
- Location
- Topeka, KS
- Local FAA office (FSDO)
- Wichita FSDO (ICT FSDO) · (316) 941-1200
- Certificate issued
- Jul 30, 2015
- Last FAA action
- May 26, 2023
- Mode S code (hex)
- A36358
- Mode S code (octal)
- 50661530
- Official record
- registry.faa.gov
Aircraft
- Manufacturer
- BALLOON WORKS
- Model
- FIREFLY 8B-15
- Type certificate (TCDS)
- A14SO (JR Aerosports Ltd.)
- Year manufactured
- 1996
- Serial number
- F8B-493
- Aircraft type
- Balloon
- Engine type
- None
- Engine
- AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- Engines / seats
- - / 1
- Weight class
- Up to 12,499 lb
- Airworthiness
- Standard since Feb 15, 1996
- Approved operations
- Balloon
Public airports near Topeka
| Airport | ID | Distance | Tower | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Billard Municipal Topeka, KS | KTOP | 5 mi | Towered | 100LL, A |
| Topeka Regional Topeka, KS | KFOE | 6 mi | Towered | 100LL, A |
| Dragoon Creek Lyndon, KS | 39K | 24 mi | Non-towered | - |
Straight-line distance from the registration city, from the FAA airport directory (NASR). The registry does not say where an aircraft is based.
Earlier registrations of this number
| Canceled | Aircraft | Serial | Year | Exported to | Same airframe today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1992 | CESSNA 310J | 310J0171 |
NTSB accident and incident records
| Date | Place | Aircraft (as NTSB recorded it) | Damage | Highest injury | NTSB no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2013 | Anthony, KS | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 this airframe | Substantial | None | CEN13CA278 |
From the NTSB aviation accident database (events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026), matched by N-number. An N-number can move between aircraft, so each row is checked against the serial number on the current registration.