# NTSB investigations, 2020: Aircraft maintenance event

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA21LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA062.md): Ercoupe 415 · South Boston, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 6, 2020 · N2674H · Substantial damage
  > The improper installation of a fuel filter screen cover gasket, which resulted in its failure, fuel starvation, and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the unapproved fuel sight gauge, which obscured…
- [NTSB ERA21LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA052.md): Lancair Legacy FG · Hollywood, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 23, 2020 · N3UH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot/owner’s failure to properly reinstall the number 1 cylinder spark plug, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb. Contributing was the pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an attempted…
- [NTSB CEN21LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA049.md): Piper PA32 · Circleville, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 8, 2020 · N33DW · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to an accessory drive gear that backed out impeding the other gears.
- [NTSB CEN21LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA048.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Greenville, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 7, 2020 · N9993W · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during a low approach over the airport, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN21LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA034.md): Cessna 182 · Lebanon, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 28, 2020 · N3537C · Substantial damage
  > Improper maintenance that resulted in a blocked crankcase breather port and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR21LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA019.md): Glasair III · Hayward, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 21, 2020 · N1YX · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because of a clogged fuel filter. Contributing to the accident was the improper maintenance and inspection of the fuel filter.
- [NTSB CEN21LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA031.md): Piper PA28 · Buda, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 21, 2020 · N5932U · Substantial damage
  > An improperly torqued oil line fitting during an engine overhaul, which resulted in oil exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN21LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA016.md): Kitfox Classic 4 · New Carlisle, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 13, 2020 · N47KC · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control of the airplane during landing, which caused the airplane to nose over during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the main landing gear modification which increased the airplane’s tendency to nose over…
- [NTSB ERA21LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA006.md): Piper PA28 · Fulton, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 4, 2020 · N6179U · Substantial damage
  > The mechanic’s improper maintenance, which resulted in the crankshaft expansion plug dislodging in flight and a subsequent forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN20LA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA377.md): Stinson 108-3 · Coleman, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 1, 2020 · N909C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper installation of the generator drive gear, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN20LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA294.md): Rockwell S2R · Harlan, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2020 · N1662S · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the upper rudder hinge that resulted in a partial separation of the rudder from the airplane during a spray pass.
- [NTSB ERA20CA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA246.md): Piper PA22 · Cortland, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 13, 2020 · N2716P · Substantial damage
  > The mechanic’s incorrect rigging of the aileron control cables, which resulted in a reversal of aileron control inputs applied by the pilot during the takeoff. Also causal was the mechanic’s inadequate post-maintenance inspection and the pilot's inadequate…
- [NTSB CEN20LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA263.md): Piper PA32 · Eveleth, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 5, 2020 · N4079R · Destroyed
  > The seizure of the airplane’s engine-driven fuel pump due to internal contamination, which led to a total loss of engine power. The source of the contamination could not be determined based on available evidence.
- [NTSB ERA20LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA212.md): Piper PA32RT · Selma, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 10, 2020 · N543GS · Destroyed
  > The mechanic’s failure to clean the oil suction screen during the most recent maintenance, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA20CA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA135.md): AugustaWestland AW119MKII · Philadelphia, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 21, 2020 · N982SS · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight failure of the lower left side of the engine cowling due to the mechanic’s improper installation of the fasteners, which resulted in the cowling impacting all four main rotor blades.
- [NTSB ANC20FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA024.md): Cessna 305 · Mokuleia, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 22, 2020 · N65070 · Substantial damage
  > A separation of the left rudder cable due to inadequate maintenance, which resulted in an in-flight loss of control and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC20LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA013.md): Piper PA31 · Fairbanks, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 12, 2020 · N4112K · Substantial damage
  > The improper installation of a hydraulic line at the right main landing gear (MLG) unlock actuator, which resulted in a total loss of system hydraulic pressure and failure of the landing gear to extend. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the…

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE year(c."eventDate") = 2020
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '040' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence?year=2020

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