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Fuel selector/shutoff valve

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system

All 177 cases169 in the probable cause
Cases
177
In the probable cause
169 (95%)
Fatal cases
32
NTSB code
01022823

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\", '01022823') 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\", '01022823'))
  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\", '01022823') 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 · 177

NTSB WPR26LA280Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHarmon Rocket II · Glasgow, MTThe pilot’s inadvertent selection of the fuel selector valve to the OFF position resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing to a field.Jul 24, 2026 · C-FCPG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA240Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Santa Paula, CAThe pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.Jun 27, 2026 · N501CR · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA201Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSky Ranger SKY Ranger 1 · Front Royal, VAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in him taking off with the fuel selector in the OFF position, and the subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.May 9, 2026 · N8092S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA181Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeroprakt Mfg SP Z O O A32 · Lexington, KYThe flight instructor’s improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing to rough terrain.Apr 16, 2026 · N993CW · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA081Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172E · Kingman, AZThe pilot’s failure to use a pre-takeoff checklist, which resulted in the fuel selector being in the off position, and subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff.Jan 14, 2026 · N7783U · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA393Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportFloyd G Halderman JR RV-6 · Cambridge, MNThe pilot’s continued operation of the faulty fuel selector valve which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the degraded operation of the fuel selector valve and the pilot’s poor decision to operate the…Sep 25, 2025 · N851FH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA199Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182P · Mineral Wells, TXThe pilot’s improper fuel tank selection prior to takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the airplane checklist.Jun 8, 2025 · N7376N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA161Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 7AC · Martinsville, VAThe pilot inadvertently turned off the fuel selector valve on takeoff which resulted in a loss of engine power.Apr 1, 2025 · N84065 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA207Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Winter Haven, FLThe pilot’s inadvertent movement of the fuel selector to a position that restricted fuel flow to the engine, which resulted in the loss of engine power during takeoff.Mar 29, 2025 · N38BS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA042Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Manvel, TXA loss of left engine power during the initial climb due to restricted fuel flow as a result of a binding fuel control cable.Nov 15, 2024 · N4143P · Substantial damage
See all 177 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\", '01022823'))
  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.