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Gust lock or damper

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system

All 14 cases
Cases
14
In the probable cause
14 (100%)
Fatal cases
4
NTSB code
01022770

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\", '01022770') 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\", '01022770'))
  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\", '01022770') 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 · 14

NTSB WPR24LA228Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV-12IS · Scappoose, ORThe pilot’s failure to remove the seat belt used as a flight control lock from the right control stick before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control, an aerodynamic stall, and a collision with terrain during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the…Jul 2, 2024 · N725FA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA152Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182H · Three Forks, MTThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in an attempted departure with the flight control lock device installed, and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.May 10, 2024 · N2388X · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21FA283Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportSiai-Marchetti SM-1019B · Lewiston, IDThe pilot’s failure to remove the flight control lock before departure, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was his failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection and flight control check…Jul 24, 2021 · N28U · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA089Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A36 · Summerland Key, FLThe pilot's failure to remove the flight control gust lock before takeoff, which resulted in an inability to rotate, aborted takeoff, and subsequent runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was a missing piece of the flight control gust lock, which did…Jan 25, 2020 · N41VK · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA085Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · St. Petersburg, FLThe pilot's failure to remove the gust lock before flight, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to rotate and a subsequent runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the preflight checklist.Nov 28, 2018 · N54058 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA088Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172M · Sussex, NJThe pilot's failure to remove the gust lock during the preflight inspection, resulting in a loss of control and collision with trees during takeoff.May 23, 2015 · N9959V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15IA046Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportEmbraer EMB-505 · Palm Springs, CAThe failure of the gust lock actuator solenoid for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the rudder gust lock system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.Nov 23, 2014 · C-GJOL · Minor damageNTSB ERA14MA271Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGulfstream Aerospace G IV · Bedford, MAThe flight crewmembers' failure to perform the flight control check before takeoff, their attempt to take off with the gust lock system engaged, and their delayed execution of a rejected takeoff after they became aware that the controls were locked.…Jun 1, 2014 · N121JM · DestroyedNTSB ERA13FA372Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAeronca 7AC · Taunton, MAThe pilot/owner’s inadequate preflight inspection and inadequate pretakeoff check of the flight controls, which resulted in a takeoff with the rudder gust lock installed. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-rated passenger’s failure to detect that the…Aug 25, 2013 · N83863 · DestroyedNTSB ERA13CA350Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172S · Portsmouth, NHThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection resulting in his failure to remove the pin he used to lock the flight controls in place of the approved control lock.Aug 3, 2013 · N645PD · Substantial damage
See all 14 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\", '01022770'))
  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.