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Fuel pumps

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system

All 71 cases65 in the probable cause
Cases
71
In the probable cause
65 (92%)
Fatal cases
13
NTSB code
01022822

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\", '01022822') 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\", '01022822'))
  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\", '01022822') 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 · 71

NTSB CEN24LA065Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech B36TC · Burnet, TXThe loss of engine power due an overly rich mixture from an improper adjustment of the fuel pump, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with a car and terrain.Dec 17, 2023 · N70SL · DestroyedNTSB WPR24FA056Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportVans RV8 · Corona, CAFuel contamination from the pilot’s improper application of a sealant to the fuel tank, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power on takeoff.Dec 16, 2023 · N6948L · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA390Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportZlin Aviation S R O Savage Norden · Cabot, ARThe airplane manufacturer’s routing of the fuel pump wiring next to the engine’s turbocharger and exhaust, which thermally damaged the wiring and resulted in a malfunction of the fuel delivery system and a total loss of engine power.Aug 30, 2023 · N7373 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA263Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Marble Falls, TXA total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an unknown source.Jul 9, 2023 · N163RK · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA259Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSocata TB21 · San Marcos, CAThe failure of the mechanical fuel pump due to internal friction for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.Jul 17, 2022 · N718TB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA231Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJames C Geyman RV-9A · Missoula, MTThe pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to activate the auxiliary fuel boost pump, which inhibited a successful engine restart.Jun 27, 2022 · N12VV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA277Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHawker Hunter · Wilmington, NCA bearing failure in the high-pressure fuel pump, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.Jun 20, 2022 · N337AX · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA239Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportThrush S2R · Hawkinsville, GAA failure of the electric main fuel pump due to the carbon brushes having completely worn away.May 5, 2022 · N6216M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA186Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHenry L Berrier JR Arion Lightning LS-1 · Mountain City, TNA total loss of engine power due to intermittent operation of both the engine-driven fuel pump and the electric boost pump. Contributing was the pilot’s delay in rejecting the takeoff, after the initial loss of engine power, which resulted in a collision with…Apr 7, 2022 · N6688S · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA018Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 210 · Dallas, TXA temporary loss of engine power during the takeoff due to a damaged fuel pump, which resulted in a forced landing and a runway excursion. The source of the damage to the fuel pump could not be determined.Oct 20, 2021 · N1235U · Substantial damage
See all 71 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\", '01022822'))
  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.