# Flight control sys malf/fail - Type: NTSB defining event - NTSB code: 333 - CICTT category: System/Component Failure (Non-Powerplant) - Defining event in: 355 cases - In the sequence of: 410 cases - Fatal cases: 36 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/cases.md - Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333 ## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence) - 2008: 21 / 23 - 2009: 10 / 15 - 2010: 24 / 30 - 2011: 20 / 26 - 2012: 26 / 29 - 2013: 19 / 23 - 2014: 15 / 16 - 2015: 20 / 24 - 2016: 15 / 20 - 2017: 24 / 25 - 2018: 15 / 16 - 2019: 13 / 16 - 2020: 16 / 17 - 2021: 25 / 26 - 2022: 20 / 24 - 2023: 13 / 14 - 2024: 24 / 25 - 2025: 23 / 27 - 2026: 12 / 14 ## Phase of flight - Takeoff: 56 cases - Enroute-cruise: 42 cases - Initial climb: 37 cases - Maneuvering: 33 cases - Enroute: 27 cases - Approach: 20 cases - Enroute-climb to cruise: 18 cases - Approach-VFR pattern final: 16 cases - Landing: 14 cases - Landing-flare/touchdown: 12 cases ## In the probable cause of these cases - [Elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730) (Aircraft): 43 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 32 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 25 cases - [Aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710) (Aircraft): 22 cases - [Rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720) (Aircraft): 21 cases - [Flight control system, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700) (Aircraft): 19 cases - [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 18 cases - [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 18 cases - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 17 cases - [Elevator tab control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022731) (Aircraft): 16 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d): 4 cases - [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250): 3 cases - [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 3 cases - [MD Helicopters MD 900](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-md-900): 3 cases - [Cessna 560XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-560xl): 3 cases - [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner): 2 cases - [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200): 2 cases - [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 2 cases - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN27LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA017), Oct 13, 2026: Donald K Stovall Pietenpol Aircamper (N728MK), Syracuse, KS, investigation ongoing - [NTSB DCA27WA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA27WA010), Oct 4, 2026: Boeing 737 (VH-VOL), Canberra, Australia, incident, no damage - [NTSB CEN26LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA333), Sep 26, 2026: Fairchild 24H (N16902), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB CEN26LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA295), Aug 17, 2026: Aviat A-1B (N299CA), Pilot Grove, MN, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB DCA26WA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA334), Aug 14, 2026: Airbus A330 (9S-ABS), Lubumbashi, Congo - Kinshasa, incident - [NTSB WPR26LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA302), Aug 9, 2026: Cessna 208B (N247JP), Salmon, ID, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB WPR26LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA258), Jul 12, 2026: Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau Remos GX (N126GX), Glendale, AZ, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB CEN26LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA235), Jun 17, 2026: Beech V35B (N4275S), Greeley, CO, no damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB CEN26LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA187), May 13, 2026: Cessna 172S (N2134M), Denton, TX, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ENG26WA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG26WA027), Apr 5, 2026: ATR ATR72 (EC-JXF), Marseille-Provence, France, occurrence, no damage 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.