# Auto flight system - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0102) › Auto flight system - NTSB code: 010222 - Cases: 42 - In the probable cause: 32 - Fatal cases: 21 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010222/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010222/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010222 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 1 / 2 - 2009: 1 / 2 - 2010: 0 / 1 - 2011: 1 / 2 - 2012: 2 / 3 - 2013: 4 / 5 - 2014: 0 / 1 - 2016: 2 / 2 - 2017: 2 / 2 - 2018: 1 / 2 - 2019: 5 / 5 - 2020: 0 / 1 - 2021: 2 / 2 - 2022: 2 / 2 - 2023: 5 / 6 - 2024: 4 / 4 ## Findings - [Autopilot system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022210): 28 cases, 19 in the probable cause - [Auto flight system, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022200): 8 cases, 7 in the probable cause - [Autopilot trim servo](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022216): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Auto throttle system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022230): 2 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Autopilot computer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022211): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Flight controller](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022213): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Autopilot main servo](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022215): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 19 cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 4 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 3 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 3 cases - [Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000): 3 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 1 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 1 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 1 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p): 2 cases - [Pilatus PC-12/45](https://openairdocs.org/model/pilatus-pc-12-45): 2 cases - [Cirrus Design SF50](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sf50): 2 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 2 cases - [Sikorsky S-76C](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76c): 1 cases - [Rockwell International 112TCA](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-112tca): 1 cases - [Raytheon C90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-c90a): 1 cases - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 1 cases - [Pilatus PC-12/47E](https://openairdocs.org/model/pilatus-pc-12-47e): 1 cases - [Pilatus PC-12/47](https://openairdocs.org/model/pilatus-pc-12-47): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 16 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 9 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 7 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 5 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 3 cases - [Conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025) (Environmental issues): 3 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB DCA24LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA328), Sep 14, 2024: Cirrus Design SF50 (N442CV), Austin, TX, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The unintended activation of the Emergency Autoland button on the overhead panel due to the airplane’s collision with an unknown object. Contributing to the incident was the pilot’s inability to… - [NTSB CEN24LA380](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA380), Aug 7, 2024: Xag P100 PRO (N268MQ), Francesville, IN, minor damage. Probable cause: The remote pilot’s in-flight loss of control of the unmanned aircraft due to GPS signal fluctuations, which resulted in a collision with, and serious injury to, a person assisting the operation. - [NTSB WPR24FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA257), Jul 26, 2024: Pilatus PC-12/47E (N357HE), Recluse, WY, destroyed, 7 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s… - [NTSB WPR24FA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA124), Apr 14, 2024: Gulfstream 695A (N965BC), San Bernardino, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s continued use of the airplane’s autopilot after flight into moderate to severe icing conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an… - [NTSB ERA24FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA003), Oct 8, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (N802JR), Croydon, NH, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during the initial climb in dark night conditions due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a steep banking descent into trees and terrain. Contributing to the… - [NTSB ERA23LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA253), Jun 1, 2023: Beech V35A (N8074R), Statesboro, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the pitch servo bridle cable clamp, which led to binding in the elevator control system that restricted aft yoke movement during the landing approach. - [NTSB CEN23FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA190), May 17, 2023: Beech E-90 (N522MJ), Winslow, AR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s poor preflight decision to depart into known instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without a functional autopilot system, which resulted in spatial disorientation and his failure to… - [NTSB CEN23LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA135), Mar 14, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron APT70 (N314AL), Mineral Wells, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s loss of control of the unmanned aircraft due to software limitations. Contributing to the accident was the overly restrictive low voltage threshold limits. - [NTSB ERA23LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA135), Mar 3, 2023: Bombardier BD-100-1A10 (N300ER), Windsor Locks, CT, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The flight crew’s failure to remove the right side pitot probe cover before flight, their decision to depart with a No-Go advisory message following an aborted takeoff, and their selection of the… - [NTSB WPR23MA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23MA113), Feb 25, 2023: Pilatus PC-12/45 (N273SM), Stagecoach, NV, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the… 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. --- 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.