# Explosion (non-impact) - Type: NTSB defining event - NTSB code: 160 - CICTT category: Fire - Defining event in: 17 cases - In the sequence of: 20 cases - Fatal cases: 3 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160/cases.md - Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160/sequence.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160 ## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence) - 2008: 1 / 2 - 2009: 1 / 1 - 2010: 2 / 3 - 2011: 1 / 1 - 2014: 1 / 1 - 2016: 2 / 2 - 2018: 3 / 4 - 2019: 1 / 1 - 2021: 1 / 1 - 2024: 2 / 2 - 2025: 1 / 1 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## Phase of flight - Initial climb: 5 cases - Enroute-cruise: 2 cases - Takeoff: 2 cases - Standing-engine(s) start-up: 2 cases - Enroute-climb to cruise: 1 cases - Enroute: 1 cases - Takeoff-rejected takeoff: 1 cases - Taxi-from runway: 1 cases - Standing-engine(s) operating: 1 cases - Prior to flight: 1 cases ## In the probable cause of these cases - [Fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 3 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Unauthorized maint/repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062040) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Post maintenance inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Misc hardware, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400) (Aircraft): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Beech U-8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-u-8f): 2 cases - [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58): 2 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 1 cases - [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310): 1 cases - [Douglas C54D-DC](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-c54d-dc): 1 cases - [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200): 1 cases - [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p): 1 cases - [Swezey T/Molnar D VANS RV-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/swezey-t-molnar-d-vans-rv-10): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN27LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA022), Oct 19, 2026: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200 (N117RF), Springfield, MO, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ENG25WA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG25WA037), May 31, 2025: Boeing 737 (A4O-ML), Muscat, Oman, incident, minor damage - [NTSB ENG25WA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG25WA029), Dec 28, 2024: Boeing 737 (PH-BXM), Oslo, Norway, incident, minor damage - [NTSB ANC24FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA029), Apr 23, 2024: Douglas C54D (N3054V), Fairbanks, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of power of the No. 1 engine for reasons that could not be determined, and the incorrect installation of a B-nut fitting in the propeller feathering system, which allowed engine oil to spray… - [NTSB CEN21LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA274), Jun 17, 2021: Beech U-8F (N62069), Goodland, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the airplane, which failed to detect and correct chafed electrical wiring and a degraded fuel bladder with holes, which resulted in ignition of fuel… - [NTSB CEN19LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA215), Jul 9, 2019: Beech 65 (N62069), Sidney, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper maintenance of the outboard left wing, which allowed electrical arcing and leaking of the fuel sending unit and subsequently resulted in ignition of fuel vapors and an explosion of the… - [NTSB CEN18LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA221), Jun 8, 2018: Beech 58 (N190RS), Baton Rouge, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper insulation of the anticollision light wiring, which resulted in the ignition of combustible fuel vapors in the outboard section of the right wing; the source of the fuel leak could not… - [NTSB CEN18WA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18WA401), Apr 28, 2018: Beech 58 (HB-GGP), Hautes-Alpes, France, substantial damage - [NTSB DCA18WA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18WA140), Apr 14, 2018: Airbus A320 (C-FTJR), Orlando, FL, incident, minor damage - [NTSB WPR16FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA183), Sep 18, 2016: Cessna 182P (N20844), Gilbert, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: An inadvertent explosion of pyrotechnics, which were contained in a box that had been installed on the airplane's left main landing gear assembly spring leg which resulted in shrapnel striking the… NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.