# Part(s) separation from AC

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 338
- CICTT category: System/Component Failure (Non-Powerplant)
- Defining event in: 288 cases
- In the sequence of: 563 cases
- Fatal cases: 40
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338

## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence)

- 2008: 5 / 13
- 2009: 15 / 24
- 2010: 14 / 26
- 2011: 20 / 31
- 2012: 15 / 30
- 2013: 13 / 26
- 2014: 13 / 30
- 2015: 14 / 35
- 2016: 22 / 38
- 2017: 19 / 37
- 2018: 18 / 63
- 2019: 19 / 36
- 2020: 12 / 24
- 2021: 12 / 25
- 2022: 13 / 22
- 2023: 15 / 33
- 2024: 19 / 33
- 2025: 22 / 25
- 2026: 8 / 12

## Phase of flight

- Enroute-cruise: 58 cases
- Takeoff: 36 cases
- Enroute: 34 cases
- Initial climb: 29 cases
- Landing-landing roll: 23 cases
- Maneuvering: 23 cases
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 14 cases
- Landing-flare/touchdown: 12 cases
- Enroute-climb to cruise: 11 cases
- Landing: 7 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 28 cases
- [Propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111) (Aircraft): 23 cases
- [Passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210) (Aircraft): 22 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 21 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 18 cases
- [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 11 cases
- [Fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430) (Aircraft): 10 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 10 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Tail rotor blade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046410) (Aircraft): 9 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Bell UH-1H](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h): 5 cases
- [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407): 4 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 3 cases
- [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a): 3 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 2 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases
- [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA318), Sep 13, 2026: Vans RV4 (N254MM), Harrisonville, MO, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA289), Jul 30, 2026: Beech A36 (N9144Q), Weston, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight opening of the engine cowling, which resulted in engine baffling separating from the airplane and impacting the right elevator.
- [NTSB WPR26LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA249), Jul 7, 2026: Air Tractor AT-502B (N647LA), Ogden, UT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26FA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA239), Jun 15, 2026: Blessing RV-3A (N696DB), Lakeland, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26LA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA232), Jun 6, 2026: North American SNJ-5C (N98RJ), Midland, VA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB CEN26LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA179), May 4, 2026: Cessna 421C (N6161X), Kirksville, MO, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA193), Apr 4, 2026: Bell UH1 (N75140), Enterprise, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of a turn lock fastener stud, which resulted in substantial damage to one tail rotor blade.
- [NTSB CEN26LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA131), Feb 28, 2026: Quad City Challenger (UNREG), Van Burensburg, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Propeller separation due to failure of the propeller attachment bolts.
- [NTSB WPR26LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA041), Nov 7, 2025: Bessler Duane Lynn Savannah (N358D), Pacific, WA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB DCA26MA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26MA024), Nov 4, 2025: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11F (N259UP), Louisville, KY, destroyed, 14 fatal, investigation ongoing

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.

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