NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series
18 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Lycoming IO-540 series, where the defining event was Low altitude operation/event. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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 c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585')
AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '220'))
ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585')
AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '220'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB CEN26LA148Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Stonewall, TXOn March 24, 2026, about 0930 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N233JD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stonewall, Texas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a…NTSB CEN26LA101Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Sullivan, MOThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during low-level operations.NTSB CEN25FA019Accident · 4 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportRobinson R44 · Houston, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a lighted radio tower during a visual night flight. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to issue a safety alert notifying the pilot of the flight’s unsafe proximity to the tower.NTSB CEN22LA366Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Maynard, IAAn impact with a powerline as a result of an unexpected wind gust.NTSB CEN22LA345Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Ithaca, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low level aerial application operations due to a distraction.NTSB WPR20CA197Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Pioche, NVThe pilot’s decision to fly at low level over mountainous terrain and his inability to recover when the helicopter encountered a downdraft that resulted in a collision with terrain.NTSB CEN17CA346Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Logan, IAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application flight.NTSB CEN16FA215Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Jonesboro, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to his combined use of alcohol and diphenhydramine, which led to his improper decision to fly after drinking alcohol and degraded…NTSB CEN14LA487Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Macedonia, IAThe pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a static line.NTSB WPR14CA270Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Quincy, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a wind generator tower while drying cherries, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent hard landing.NTSB WPR12LA259Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · East Wenatchee, WAThe pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment and maintain clearance from the power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.NTSB WPR11LA179Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEagle DW1 · Newman, CAThe pilot’s inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a vehicle during a low-altitude operation.NTSB WPR11FA027Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportReed Glasair III SH-3R · Lake Mathews, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude beneath a cloud layer.NTSB CEN10FA162Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportMaule M-6-235 · Bennett, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a utility line while maneuvering.NTSB WPR09CA470Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Mt Charleston, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and terrain clearance while maneuvering at a low altitude above high terrain. Contributing to the accident was a downdraft and high density altitude.NTSB WPR09CA224Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Cottonwood, AZThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from wires.NTSB WPR09CA105Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Bountiful, UTThe pilot's improper decision to fly at low altitude while maneuvering in mountainous terrain in a canyon and inadvertently exceeding the climb capability of the helicopter. Contributing to the accident were a high density altitude, mountainous terrain, and a…NTSB SEA08LA070Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportKidd Chris Harmon ROC · Maricopa, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while maneuvering in mountainous, hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident were hilly terrain, a low ceiling and gusty winds.