# NTSB investigations, AZ: Part(s) separation from AC

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 WPR26LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA114.md): American Champion 8GCBC · Carefree, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 2, 2026 · N636DB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane at a backcountry airstrip, and while taxiing on rough terrain, the tailwheel spring failed and the tailwheel assembly separated from the airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited to…
- [NTSB WPR25LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA209.md): Pipistrel Alpha Trainer · Colorado City, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2025 · N209ZM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s never-exceed speed (VNE) during maneuvering, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left flaperon.
- [NTSB WPR24LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA051.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Mesa, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 5, 2023 · N9166J · Substantial damage
  > A failure of the engine cowling right side latch pin and fasteners, which resulted in the partial separation of the engine cowling during flight.
- [NTSB WPR21LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA301.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Amado, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2021 · N44245 · Substantial damage
  > The inflight separation of a section of a propeller blade due to a fatigue crack, which resulted in a forced landing.
- [NTSB WPR21LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA142.md): Davis Dan B Lancair Evolution · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 18, 2021 · N469KS · Substantial damage
  > A malfunction of the main cabin door latching mechanism for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB WPR20LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA130.md): Bell UH 1H · Mesa, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 24, 2020 · N3276T · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the airframe due to fatigue failure of the gearbox attachment studs, resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact. Contributing to the accident were 1) the improper application…
- [NTSB GAA20CA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA039.md): Zenair CH 701 · Safford, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 20, 2019 · N3784A · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight separation of a propeller blade for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in an off-airport landing on soft sand and the separation of main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…
- [NTSB GAA18CA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA312.md): Piper PA 46 · Prescott, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 30, 2018 · N148ME · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR18LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA158.md): Rhoads Autogyro MTO Sport · San Manuel, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 21, 2018 · N574BR · Substantial damage
  > The fracture of the propeller hub due to corrosion pitting along the propeller blade root seat, which led to cracking that was propagated due to high-cycle fatigue.
- [NTSB GAA18CA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA256.md): Cessna A185 · Chandler, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 5, 2018 · N76SC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting tailwind conditions.
- [NTSB WPR17FA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA134.md): Jordan John RV7 · Arlington, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2017 · N731RV · Destroyed
  > The inflight overstress separation of the vertical stabilizer and rudder during flight which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain airplane control. Contributing to the accident was an inflight collision with a bird.
- [NTSB WPR17LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA002.md): Tamarack Helicopters UH-1H · Gila Bend, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2016 · N175SF · Substantial damage
  > The separation of the 90° tail rotor gearbox assembly as a result of fatigue to the tail rotor gearbox input quill assembly attachment studs due to the helicopter experiencing highly repetitive agricultural flight profiles for which it was not designed.
- [NTSB GAA16CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA043.md): Cessna 182 · Douglas Bisbee, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 2, 2015 · N1706R · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion, left main landing gear collapse, and a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA15CA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA187.md): Hier James A Long EZ · Show Low, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 26, 2015 · N793H · Substantial damage
  > The right main landing gear leg fracture, which resulted in the landing gear wheel separation and a runway excursion.
- [NTSB WPR13FA417](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA417.md): Bell UH-1V · Cordes Lakes, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 21, 2013 · N22490 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper maintenance on the helicopter’s main rotor blade pitch control system, which resulted in an in-flight loss of main rotor blade pitch control, mast bumping, and mast failure.
- [NTSB WPR10LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA317.md): Worgull Hornet · Camp Verde, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2010 · N707BD · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight separation of the exhaust clamps for an undetermined reason, which resulted in the exhaust system striking the wooden propeller.
- [NTSB WPR10FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA133.md): Eurocopter EC135 · Cave Creek, AZ · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 2010 · N127TS · Substantial damage
  > The sudden and inadvertent lowering of the collective to near the lower stop, followed by a simultaneous movement of the collective back up and the cyclic control to a nearly full-aft position, which resulted in the main rotor disc diverging from its normal…
- [NTSB WPR10LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA075.md): Aerospatiale AS 355F1 · Temple Bar, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 6, 2009 · N548SA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention during the preflight inspection.
- [NTSB WPR09LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA253.md): Gauchat Safari · Rock Springs, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 22, 2009 · N147MD · Substantial damage
  > The separation of the main rotor head during cruise flight as a result of cyclic fatigue of the main rotor head spindle. The fatigue crack was due to an inadequate manufacturing process.
- [NTSB SEA08LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA149.md): Van Heeswyk Lightning · Marana, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 1, 2008 · N62JV · Substantial damage
  > The insufficient clamping force resulting in a fatigue fracture of the propeller extension attachment bolts and subsequent separation of the propeller assembly in flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to…

## 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 c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AZ' 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" = '338' 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/338/sequence?state=AZ

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