NTSB investigations, CA
31 cases where the sequence of events included Flight control sys malf/fail.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'CA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
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"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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' 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
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 WPR25LA195Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 150F · Tracy, CAOn June 28, 2025, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N6744F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Tracy Municipal Airport (TCY), Tracy, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14…NTSB DCA25LA174Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPyka Pelican · Dixon, CAThe flight control system’s unanticipated transition to takeoff abort mode due to a software error in the autonomous flight control system, which resulted in a premature throttle reduction and hard landing.NTSB DCA24LA206Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportBoeing 737-8 · Oakland, CAOn May 25, 2024, about 0744 Pacific daylight time, Southwest Airlines (SWA) flight 746, a Boeing 737-8, N8825Q, experienced a rudder control system anomaly while operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight…NTSB WPR23LA317Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-24-260 · Fullerton, CAThe separation of the stabilator actuator from the stabilator tab, which resulted in pitch control surface flutter and structural damage.NTSB DCA22LA212Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus A330-243 · Los Angeles, CAUncommanded movement of the trimmable horizontal stabilizer control wheel for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.NTSB WPR22LA340Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Banning, CAThe improper attachment of the tail rotor drive shaft to the air conditioner drive pulley without a drive ring, which resulted in the failure of the hardware, a loss of tail rotor drive, and the loss of control of the helicopter followed by a hard landing and…NTSB WPR22FA216Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 336 · Porterville, CAMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the elevator control assembly hardware, which resulted in an in-flight disconnection of the elevator and elevator counterweight and the pilot’s inability to maintain pitch control.NTSB WPR21LA039Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAgusta A109 · Los Angeles, CAThe loss of tail rotor control due to the separation of the tail rotor duplex bearing ring nut from the thrust sleeve, which resulted in the loss of helicopter control.NTSB WPR20LA135Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Hemet, CAMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly inspect and replace damaged aileron control cables, which resulted in fatigue separation of the aileron control cable and loss of control of the aircraft.NTSB WPR19LA114Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGreat Lakes 2T-1A-2 · San Diego, CAThe fracture of the aileron hinge strap due to fatigue crack propagation, which resulted in substantial damage to a wing rib aft of the spar at the outboard aileron cutout. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance inspection.NTSB WPR18LA242Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 212 · Dardanelle, CAAn in-flight failure of the trunnion bearing and subsequent failure of the drive link and swashplate support, which resulted in the loss of helicopter control.NTSB WPR18LA004Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportWestern International Avia UH 1H · Arbuckle, CAA collective control malfunction for reasons that could not be determined.NTSB WPR17LA201Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCobalt Aircraft Industries Co50 Valkyrie · Atwater, CAA loss of aileron effectiveness due to the airplane's design configuration, which resulted in the pilot's inability to control the roll axis and led to a hard landing.NTSB WPR17FA161Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportApplegate Panzl S331E · Apple Valley, CAA fatigue failure of the left aileron control rod end during aerobatic flight, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane.NTSB WPR17CA001Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna R172K · Rosamond, CAThe pilot's improper use of the control lock, combined with his incomplete execution of two pre-departure procedures, which resulted in a takeoff with the control lock installed.NTSB WPR16LA099Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 47G 5 · San Ardo, CAThe failure of the pin in the outboard end of the lateral flight control torque tube.NTSB WPR15LA126Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA 18-150 · Merced, CAThe separation of the flight control stick from the stub due to its improper installation.NTSB WPR14LA225Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEmery Mark Rotorway 162F · Merced, CAThe helicopter pilot/owner's decision to install a belt type not recommended by the kit manufacturer in the tail rotor drive system using the incorrect tension values, which led to the belt’s in-flight failure and the subsequent loss of tail rotor drive…NTSB WPR13LA238Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 310R · Bakersfield, CAThe failure of the right main landing gear link assembly, which resulted in the right main landing gear collapsing during landing.NTSB WPR13LA189Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech 95-C55 · Santa Monica, CAThe left main wheel locking up during the landing roll, which resulted in the deflation of the tire, the left main landing gear collapse, and the subsequent loss of control during the runway exit.NTSB WPR13LA087Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell OH-58C · Riverdale, CAA flight control malfunction while maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined because it was not possible to establish whether observed damage to the flight control assembly was the result of wreckage recovery efforts or a preexisting condition.NTSB WPR12LA407Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMoore Edward R MXS · Borrego Springs, CAThe pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane following the loss of aileron and elevator control due to the forward flight control torque tube assembly’s detachment from the forward bearing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate…NTSB WPR12FA155Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportExtra Flugzeugbau EA-300 · Salinas, CAA loose portable XM-GPS antenna that migrated to the tail section of the airplane and jammed the elevator bell crank. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to account for the cockpit portable GPS antenna during preflight or postflight…NTSB WPR11LA275Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBuckeye Breeze LX · Montague, CAThe unintended capture of the parachute bridle on a portion of the airframe during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a misinflated or misaligned parachute and an in-flight loss of control.NTSB WPR11IA213Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 421B · Truckee, CAFatigue failure of the right flap extend cable during the landing approach.NTSB WPR10CA398Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportKirkpatrick Buzzard · Lincoln, CAA loss of control due to the mechanical disconnection of an aileron pushrod from its bellcrank as a result of the mechanic's failure to properly secure the pushrod attach hardware. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.NTSB WPR10LA260Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSocata TBM · Lost Hills, CAA loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain the proper…NTSB WPR10LA195Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSnow Rocket F1 · Borrego Springs, CAThe pilot's inability to maintain control due to the in-flight failure and separation of the pilot's flight control stick. The reason for the flight control stick failure could not be determined.NTSB WPR09LA202Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAlexander Thomas P Sportsman GS-2 · El Dorado HIlls, CAThe in-flight separation of the elevator control torque tube rod end bearing from the elevator torque tube as a result of incorrectly tightened rod end bearing lock nuts.NTSB LAX08LA251Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna TU206E · Murrieta, CAA malfunction of the flight control system and loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB LAX08IA241Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportMD Helicopters MD 902 · Salinas, CAThe pilot's inability to maintain directional control due to the fatigue failure of the threaded portion of the forward directional control cable as a result of the improper installation a lock washer.