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Flight control system, general

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system

All 65 cases57 in the probable cause
Cases
65
In the probable cause
57 (88%)
Fatal cases
13
NTSB code
01022700

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01022700') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '01022700'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '01022700') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 65

NTSB WPR26LA115Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMightyfly MF-100 · Atwater, CAA control system anomaly, which resulted in the overload and failure of one of the propulsion motor systems during the transition from hover to forward flight.Mar 2, 2026 · N258MF · DestroyedNTSB CEN25LA267Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402B · Wyoming, ILThe pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate due to airplane’s improper takeoff configuration.Jul 15, 2025 · N647RA · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Mar 28, 2025 · N939NP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA207Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus SR20 · Aitkin, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during the go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane’s flaps during the go-around.Jun 1, 2024 · N275RS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA134Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Tracy, CAA loss of collective control authority due to fatigue failure of the collective servo cylinder extension arms from corrosion pitting.Apr 23, 2024 · N17592 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA128Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 · West Lafayette, INThe failure of maintenance personnel to properly install the tail rotor pitch change slider attachment hardware (T-bolt), which led to the disconnection of the pitch change slider, a loss of tail rotor control, and subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the…Mar 7, 2024 · N191LL · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA072Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportKubicek BB85Z · Eloy, AZThe pilot’s decision to open the rapid deflation valve during flight as a means of descending, which resulted in the deflation of the envelope and hard impact with terrain.Jan 14, 2024 · N4961D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA424Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPowrachute Pegasus · Caddo Mills, TXThe pilot’s inadequate rolling preflight, which resulted in a loss of directional control in flight and subsequent collision with an object during landing.Sep 28, 2023 · N31520 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA376Accident · No injuriesClass 2 · LimitedFinal reportEmbraer S A EMB-545 · St. Simons Island, GAThe control laws of the angle of attack limiter protection system, which precluded the system from disengaging during an approach in gusting wind conditions, limiting the flight crew’s ability to control the airplane’s pitch and resulting in a hard landing.Sep 21, 2023 · N434FX · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA319Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · North Charleston, SCA failure of the tail rotor pitch change lever assembly due to incorrectly installed bolts and maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the tail rotor control system.Aug 1, 2023 · N31PB · Substantial damage
See all 65 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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01022700'))
  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.