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NTSB investigations

18 cases where the sequence of events included Mast bumping.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

20102026

Where

Latest cases

Query with 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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '245' 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

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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '245' 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"

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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '245' 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

Run 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 ERA26LA324Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openCSP Leasing Cavalon · Ronkonkoma, NYAug 30, 2026 · N203AG · Substantial damage NTSB ANC24FA063Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Kekaha, HIAn encounter with turbulence due to downdraft winds that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight breakup.Jul 11, 2024 · N144KW · Substantial damage NTSB CEN24FA248Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRotorway Scorpion 133 · Andale, KSThe pilot’s abrupt control inputs, which resulted in a low-G condition, main rotor mast bumping, and subsequent severing of the tailboom by the main rotor blades.Jul 5, 2024 · N51017 · Destroyed NTSB WPR23LA313Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell OH-58A · Guernsey, CAThe pilot’s overpitching of the main rotor blades while maneuvering at low altitude in a high-temperature environment at high gross weight, which resulted in a reduction of engine and rotor speed, excessive main rotor blade flapping, mast bumping, and impact…Aug 9, 2023 · N861CC · Substantial damage NTSB ERA21FA317Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRotorway Exec 162F · Argyle, NYThe pilot’s abrupt control inputs, which resulted in a low G condition, main rotor mast bumping, and the subsequent severing of the tail boom by a main rotor blade.Aug 7, 2021 · N162KJ · Destroyed NTSB WPR21FA300Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R66 · Colusa, CAThe pilot’s abrupt flight control input that led to mast bumping and a subsequent in-flight breakup.Aug 1, 2021 · N7000J · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA109Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 206 · Fort McDowell, AZThe separation of the main rotor head from the mast as a result of a sudden displacement of the cyclic stick during a low-G maneuver, leading to mast bumping. Contributing to the accident were the unsecure positioning of the flight test engineer’s laptop…Apr 16, 2019 · N61PH · Destroyed NTSB CEN18WA402Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationRotorway Exec · Crestet, FranceThe government of France has notified the NTSB of an accident involving an amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC helicopter that occurred on April 05, 2018. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of France's investigation under…Apr 5, 2018 · F-PFBJ · Destroyed NTSB ERA18LA020Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Union City, TNThe pilot’s inadvertent slope landing and attempted recovery, which resulted in an incipient dynamic rollover, mast bumping, and separation of the main rotor.Nov 8, 2017 · N275AE · Substantial damage NTSB CEN17FA012Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportFairchild Hiller FH 1100 · Lino Lakes, MNThe separation of the main rotor assembly due to mast bumping.Oct 6, 2016 · N4035G · Destroyed NTSB WPR16FA130Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R66 · Wikieup, AZAn encounter with turbulence due to updrafts and/or dust devils that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight break-up.Jun 23, 2016 · N117TW · Destroyed NTSB WPR15LA177Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206 L4 · Dewey, AZA total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 2 bearing, which resulted from a fractured separator.Jun 2, 2015 · N73AW · Substantial damage NTSB WPR15FA051Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Bountiful, UTThe pilot/mechanic's failure to properly secure the pitch link hardware of one main rotor blade to the rotating swash plate, which resulted in the pitch link separating in flight and a subsequent loss of control.Dec 2, 2014 · N3234U · Substantial damage NTSB WPR13FA417Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell UH-1V · Cordes Lakes, AZThe pilot's improper maintenance on the helicopter’s main rotor blade pitch control system, which resulted in an in-flight loss of main rotor blade pitch control, mast bumping, and mast failure.Sep 21, 2013 · N22490 · Destroyed NTSB ERA13FA186Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Miami, FLThe mechanic's failure to properly secure the pitch link hardware of one main rotor blade to the rotating swash plate, which resulted in the pitch link separating in flight and the pilot's subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the…Apr 3, 2013 · N3101H · Destroyed NTSB ERA13FA070Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta II · Apollo Beach, FLMast bumping for reasons that could not be determined because one main rotor blade was not recovered.Nov 30, 2012 · N2626N · Substantial damage NTSB CEN11FA422Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 Beta · Del Valle, TXThe divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for reasons that cannot be determined because the pilot’s control inputs leading up to the event are unknown, resulting in mast bumping and main rotor blade separation.Jun 27, 2011 · N7779M · Substantial damage NTSB CEN11GA020Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell 206B · Clarkson Valley, MOThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and decision-making, and his improper control inputs following the loss of engine power, which resulted in mast bumping and separation of the…Oct 15, 2010 · N96MP · Substantial damage