# NTSB investigations, 2015: Aircraft structural failure 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 WPR16FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA041.md): Piper PA 32RT-300T · Bakersfield, CA · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 19, 2015 · N36402 · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct and continue the flight despite forecast and en route instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which were not conducive to safe operation under visual flight rules. Also causal to the accident was the… - [NTSB GAA16CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA080.md): Aviat A1 · Broadus, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 13, 2015 · N29712 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wires while flying at a low altitude resulting in a wire strike, a loss of airplane control, and the consequent impact with terrain. - [NTSB WPR16FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA036.md): Barnett Allen S RV7 · Hurricane, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 10, 2015 · N307AB · Substantial damage > The pilot’s aerobatic maneuver leading to airspeeds above the airplane’s never exceed speed, which resulted in rudder flutter and an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA16FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA033.md): Zenith CH701 · Okeechobee, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 6, 2015 · N56553 · Destroyed > An in-flight structural failure due to a severely corroded wing strut, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. - [NTSB CEN16LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA027.md): Bell 407 · San Antonio, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 3, 2015 · N496AE · Substantial damage > The failure of the No. 3 tail rotor adapter and shaft due to a loss of torque on the retaining nut. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a requirement to inspect the tail rotor assembly for security in the helicopter manufacturer's maintenance manual… - [NTSB GAA16CA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA039.md): Bell 407 · Cameron, LA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 30, 2015 · N420PH · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to remove a main rotor blade tiedown, which resulted in substantial damage to a main rotor blade when the engine was started. - [NTSB ERA16FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA001.md): Piper PA32R · Westminster, SC · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 2, 2015 · N782TM · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. - [NTSB ERA15FA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA331.md): Cornell W F/Sahakian J A JR Giles 202 (G202) · Newburgh, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2015 · N18FJ · Destroyed > Separation of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers from the fuselage due to a fracture that initiated at the bond between the left horizontal stabilizer and the flange that attached the horizontal stabilizer to the fuselage skin. The failure was likely… - [NTSB CEN15WA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15WA364.md): MX MX2 · Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, France · Accident · Minor injuries · Foreign investigation · Aug 16, 2015 · N88MX · Destroyed - [NTSB CEN15FA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA268.md): Piper PA 32 · Cuba, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 14, 2015 · N2966X · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight into thunderstorm activity, which resulted in his loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane's design limits, and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reliance on onboard… - [NTSB DCA15CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA117.md): Titan Aerospace Holdings Solara 50 · Otto, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 1, 2015 · N950TA · Destroyed > structural failure of the left wing due to an overspeed condition. - [NTSB ERA15LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA328.md): Gulfstream Aerospace G IV · Caribbean Sea, A1 · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 10, 2015 · N450KK · Substantial damage > The in-flight failure of the cabin pressurization relief/safety valve (CPRV) due to an obstruction of the CPRV static port, which allowed the airplane to overpressurize. The reason for the initial overpressurization condition could not be determined. - [NTSB WPR15LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA142.md): Schleicher ASW 27 · Reno, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 5, 2015 · N27QV · Substantial damage > The glider's encounter with severe turbulent atmospheric conditions after the pilot inadvertently entered clouds, which led to his inability to maintain a proper airspeed and the subsequent in-flight breakup of the glider. - [NTSB WPR15FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA140.md): Quicksilver Enterprises MXL II · Petaluma, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 3, 2015 · N476VB · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and structural failure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from his use of diphenhydramine. - [NTSB ENG15RA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG15RA012.md): Robinson R44 - II · Waikaia, New Zealand · Accident · No injuries · Foreign investigation · Jan 23, 2015 · ZK-HPC · Substantial damage > On January 23, 2015, a Robinson R44 II experienced a severe in-flight vibration, after which the pilot successfully landed the helicopter. A subsequent inspection found a crack on one of the main rotor blades. This incident is being investigated by the New… - [NTSB CEN15LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA104.md): Baker Bobby J Safari · The Woodlands, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 16, 2015 · N416JB · Substantial damage > An in-flight separation of the helicopter’s horizontal stabilizer due to undetected fatigue cracking of the stabilizer spar, which resulted in a loss of control. ## 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") = 2015 AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '337' 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/337/sequence?year=2015 --- 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.