# Fuel distribution - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0102) › [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010228) › Fuel distribution - NTSB code: 01022820 - Cases: 141 - In the probable cause: 128 - Fatal cases: 28 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 8 / 10 - 2009: 3 / 3 - 2010: 6 / 6 - 2011: 6 / 7 - 2012: 7 / 7 - 2013: 7 / 7 - 2014: 9 / 9 - 2015: 11 / 11 - 2016: 8 / 9 - 2017: 9 / 12 - 2018: 3 / 3 - 2019: 9 / 9 - 2020: 6 / 7 - 2021: 4 / 5 - 2022: 6 / 6 - 2023: 10 / 12 - 2024: 12 / 14 - 2025: 4 / 4 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 39 cases - [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 39 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 17 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 10 cases - [Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150): 9 cases - [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 6 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 5 cases - [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 5 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 4 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 4 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 3 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 3 cases - [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 2 cases - [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5): 2 cases - [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg): 2 cases - [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f): 2 cases - [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a): 2 cases - [Tomash James MT COYOTE](https://openairdocs.org/model/tomash-james-mt-coyote): 1 cases - [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b): 1 cases - [Thorp T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/thorp-t-18): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 46 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 23 cases - [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 11 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 9 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 8 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 8 cases - [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 7 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 7 cases - [Maintenance, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 6 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN25LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA298), Jul 31, 2025: Bell 47G (N102SH), Assumption, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from attitude-inducing unporting of the fuel. - [NTSB WPR25FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA146), May 1, 2025: Cessna 177RG (N52156), Grass Valley, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An improperly tightened B-nut fitting at the fuel flow divider, which resulted in a fuel leak and loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and the inadequate maintenance inspection, which failed… - [NTSB CEN25LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA165), Mar 27, 2025: Cessna T206 (N27DV), Natchez, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s improper maintenance, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as the result of a loose fuel line B-nut. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate… - [NTSB CEN25LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA077), Jan 15, 2025: Piper PA-28-181 (N504AF), Addison, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to the partial blockage of the fuel diaphragm metering stem and the No. 1 cylinder fuel injector nozzle. Contributing to the accident was maintenance… - [NTSB ERA25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA041), Nov 2, 2024: Anderson Kitfox 4 (N620GA), New Castle, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a split fuel line that resulted in a fuel leak and reduced fuel supply to the aft carburetor. - [NTSB ERA25LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA030), Oct 17, 2024: Zenith Zodiac 601 HDS (N511JG), Altoona, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a deteriorated gascolator gasket. Contributing was the failure of the mechanic to replace the gasket during the most recent… - [NTSB CEN24LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA337), Sep 2, 2024: Piper PA-28-140 (N32435), East Troy, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot/mechanic’s improper torquing of the fuel hose fitting while replacing the fuel pump, which allowed air to enter the fuel system and resulted in a loss of engine power during initial climb.… - [NTSB ERA24LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA331), Jul 26, 2024: Aero Commander 200 (N326WR), Valdosta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An insect nest in the right main fuel tank’s vent line, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel level reading, fuel starvation, and a total loss of engine power. - [NTSB CEN24LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA272), Jul 17, 2024: Air Tractor AT-602 (N622AW), Oakland, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain coordinated flight during aerial-application operations, which resulted in fuel migration between the interconnected wing fuel tanks, and his failure to adequately… - [NTSB ERA24LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA302), Jul 4, 2024: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N184VA), Myerstown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a B-nut on the No. 5 cylinder fuel injector line, resulting in a fuel leak and engine fire. 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.