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Fuel quantity indicator

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system

All 35 cases30 in the probable cause
Cases
35
In the probable cause
30 (86%)
Fatal cases
1
NTSB code
01022841

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\", '01022841') 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\", '01022841'))
  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\", '01022841') 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 · 35

NTSB CEN25LA035Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDe Havilland DHC-1 · East Troy, WIThe pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the inaccurate fuel gauge.Nov 6, 2024 · N420TD · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA053Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchmidt Randall M Bushby Mustang II · Statesboro, GAA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion was the likely inaccurate right fuel quantity indicating system.Nov 2, 2022 · N30RK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA229Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportFahey William J CH750 Cruzer · San Antonio, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the fuel starvation was a faulty experimental fuel gauge.Jun 2, 2022 · N415WF · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA033Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s mismanagement of fuel which resulted in fuel starvation and total loss of engine power during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the improperly marked fuel quantity gauges that failed to indicate a fuel quantity takeoff limitation.Apr 26, 2021 · N77219 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA062Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportErcoupe 415 · South Boston, VAThe improper installation of a fuel filter screen cover gasket, which resulted in its failure, fuel starvation, and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the unapproved fuel sight gauge, which obscured…Dec 6, 2020 · N2674H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA036Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportChampion 7ECA · Starkville, MSThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision not to visually confirm the remaining fuel onboard during the intermediate stop.Dec 18, 2019 · N9566S · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA426Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportNorth American T28 · Hollister, CAThe pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power.Jun 20, 2019 · N28CU · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19FA124Accident · 6 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBeech 58 · Kerrville, TXThe pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning and fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's failure to follow the one-engine inoperative checklist and maintain the airplane's minimum…Apr 22, 2019 · N501CE · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA300Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Le Sueur, MNThe pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight fuel planning, during which he did not visually check the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks and instead relied on the fuel gauges that were showing erroneous fuel quantity indications, which resulted in fuel…Jul 27, 2018 · N9005T · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA032Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T207A · Rock Springs, WYThe pilot's improper in-flight fuel management and reliance on a faulty fuel gauge, which resulted in fuel starvation during approach for landing, and his failure to follow the emergency checklist after losing engine power.Nov 15, 2017 · N9825M · Substantial damage
See all 35 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\", '01022841'))
  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.