# NTSB investigations, 2021: Flight control sys malf/fail

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 DCA22WA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22WA079.md): Beech 1900 · Lorraine, France · Incident · Class 5 · Foreign · Dec 10, 2021 · F-GLNH · No damage
- [NTSB GAA22WA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA22WA048.md): BAE ATP · Belfast, United Kingdom · Incident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Nov 27, 2021 · SE-MAP · No damage
- [NTSB WPR22LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA045.md): Elvin Jack R JR Rotorway Exec 162F · Scio, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 22, 2021 · N102LD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper maintenance on the tail rotor assembly, which resulted in the loss of control and roll over.
- [NTSB CEN22LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA038.md): Piper PA-22-160 · West Union, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 15, 2021 · N3463Z · Substantial damage
  > A malfunction of the flight controls for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
- [NTSB GAA22WA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA22WA017.md): Cessna 525 · Bristol, United Kingdom · Incident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Oct 20, 2021 · N498YY · No damage
- [NTSB DCA22MA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22MA009.md): Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-87 (MD-87) · Brookshire, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 2 · Major · Final report · Oct 19, 2021 · N987AK · Destroyed
  > The jammed condition of both elevators, which resulted from exposure to localized, dynamic high wind while the airplane was parked and prevented the airplane from rotating during the takeoff roll. Also causal was the failure of Everts Air Cargo, the pilots’…
- [NTSB ERA22FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA015.md): Velocity SE RG · Titusville, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 14, 2021 · N755V · Destroyed
  > The separation of the airplane’s elevator control push-pull tube, which resulted in a loss of control during the approach.
- [NTSB ANC21LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA093.md): Piper PA-22-150 · Chandalar Shelf, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 17, 2021 · N8061D · Substantial damage
  > A separation of the rudder cable from the rudder pedal due to the connecting bolt detaching for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
- [NTSB ERA21LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA360.md): Zenith 750 Cruzer · New Smyrna, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 14, 2021 · N161AR · Substantial damage
  > The mechanic’s inadequate inspection of the flight control system, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB DCA21WA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21WA219.md): Embraer ERJ190 · Maiquetia, Venezuela · Incident · Class 5 · Foreign · Aug 25, 2021 · YV2912 · No damage
- [NTSB DCA21WA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21WA221.md): Airbus A300 · Marquetia, Venezuela · Incident · Class 5 · Foreign · Aug 21, 2021 · YV562T · No damage
- [NTSB ANC21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA075.md): Piper PA-18 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 10, 2021 · N1264A · Substantial damage
  > The malfunction of the control stick during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
- [NTSB DCA21WA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21WA205.md): Boeing 737 · Perth, Australia · Incident · Class 5 · Foreign · Jul 31, 2021 · UNK · No damage
- [NTSB GAA21WA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA21WA191.md): Bell 206 · Policka, Czechia · Accident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Jul 30, 2021 · OK-BWR
- [NTSB CEN21LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA346.md): HpH, Spol. S.R.O. Glasflügel 304S · Briggs, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2021 · N304AB · Substantial damage
  > The overstress fracture of the elevator control tube due to reduced wall thickness from water intrusion and subsequent corrosion. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a drain hole at the bottom of the elevator control tube, which allowed the tube to…
- [NTSB ANC21LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA064.md): Piper PA-14 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2021 · N4206H · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel rudder post, which resulted in structural failure of the rudder. Contributing to the fatigue failure was the post’s susceptibility to fatigue cracking under normal service…
- [NTSB ENG21WA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG21WA046.md): Boeing 737 · Enroute, Germany · Incident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Jul 7, 2021 · EI-STM · No damage
- [NTSB WPR21LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA238.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Twisp, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2021 · N6917Z · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight separation of the control stick from the torque tube assembly, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent on-ground collision.
- [NTSB CEN21FA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA272.md): Antenor Velazco Lancair Evolution · Parker, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 16, 2021 · N704AK · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s diversion of attention following an asymmetric flap deployment, which resulted in a descent and collision with powerlines. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the flap control rod attachment bolts,…
- [NTSB GAA21WA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA21WA074.md): Piper J3 · Epse, Netherlands · Accident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Apr 15, 2021 · NC50601 · Destroyed
- [NTSB ENG21WA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG21WA024.md): BAE ATP · Ronaldsway, Isle of Man · Incident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Apr 9, 2021 · SE-LPS · No damage
- [NTSB DCA21WA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21WA111.md): Airbus A320 · Lima, Peru · Incident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Mar 27, 2021 · CC-AZE · Minor damage
- [NTSB DCA21LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21LA094.md): Bell APT70 · Fort Benning, GA · Accident · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 1, 2021 · N314AQ · Substantial damage
  > failure of an electronic speed controller that resulted in a descent and impact with trees.
- [NTSB ERA21LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA131.md): Piper PA-18 · Lake Placid, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 10, 2021 · N8183C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to ensure that the aft seat cushion was adequately secured, which resulted in its movement, subsequent interference with the flight controls, and a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA21LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA106.md): American AA5 · Leesburg, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 19, 2021 · N5880L · Substantial damage
  > The weakened structure of the left horizontal stabilizer, which resulted in elevator flutter and subsequent partial separation of the left elevator in flight. Contributing to the accident were the lack of elevator authority while landing due to the damaged…
- [NTSB DCA21WA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21WA081.md): Boeing 737 · Mexico City, Mexico · Incident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Jan 6, 2021 · HP-1526CMP · No damage

## 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") = 2021
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '333' 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/333/sequence?year=2021

---
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.