# Flight control system, general

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0102) › [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010227) › Flight control system, general
- NTSB code: 01022700
- Cases: 65
- In the probable cause: 57
- Fatal cases: 13
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 1 / 1
- 2009: 2 / 2
- 2010: 8 / 10
- 2011: 4 / 4
- 2012: 4 / 4
- 2013: 1 / 2
- 2014: 1 / 2
- 2015: 2 / 2
- 2016: 4 / 4
- 2017: 5 / 5
- 2018: 3 / 3
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 2 / 3
- 2022: 4 / 5
- 2023: 6 / 7
- 2024: 4 / 4
- 2025: 1 / 2
- 2026: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 22 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 11 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 6 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 6 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 6 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 3 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 3 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 2 cases
- [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 1 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 3 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 2 cases
- [Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S](https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm-bo-105s): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 2 cases
- [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw): 2 cases
- [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2](https://openairdocs.org/model/helicopteres-guimbal-cabri-g2): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter Deutschland EC135P1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec135p1): 1 cases
- [Sikorsky S-97A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-97a): 1 cases
- [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 13 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 8 cases
- [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 3 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA115), Mar 2, 2026: Mightyfly MF-100 (N258MF), Atwater, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: A 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.
- [NTSB CEN25LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA267), Jul 15, 2025: Air Tractor AT-402B (N647RA), Wyoming, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate due to airplane’s improper takeoff configuration.
- [NTSB DCA25LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA174), Mar 28, 2025: Pyka Pelican (N939NP), Dixon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB CEN24LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA207), Jun 1, 2024: Cirrus SR20 (N275RS), Aitkin, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB WPR24LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA134), Apr 23, 2024: Bell 206L-3 (N17592), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of collective control authority due to fatigue failure of the collective servo cylinder extension arms from corrosion pitting.
- [NTSB CEN24LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA128), Mar 7, 2024: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 (N191LL), West Lafayette, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB WPR24FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA072), Jan 14, 2024: Kubicek BB85Z (N4961D), Eloy, AZ, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB CEN23LA424](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA424), Sep 28, 2023: Powrachute Pegasus (N31520), Caddo Mills, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate rolling preflight, which resulted in a loss of directional control in flight and subsequent collision with an object during landing.
- [NTSB ERA23LA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA376), Sep 21, 2023: Embraer S A EMB-545 (N434FX), St. Simons Island, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB ERA23LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA319), Aug 1, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (N31PB), North Charleston, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A 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.

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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