# Fuselage - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › Fuselage - NTSB code: 010353 - Cases: 125 - In the probable cause: 96 - Fatal cases: 22 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010353/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010353/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010353 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 6 / 8 - 2009: 13 / 16 - 2010: 9 / 12 - 2011: 7 / 11 - 2012: 2 / 4 - 2013: 5 / 8 - 2014: 2 / 3 - 2015: 3 / 5 - 2016: 7 / 7 - 2017: 5 / 5 - 2018: 5 / 8 - 2019: 8 / 8 - 2020: 4 / 5 - 2021: 2 / 4 - 2022: 2 / 2 - 2023: 5 / 6 - 2024: 4 / 5 - 2025: 3 / 4 - 2026: 3 / 3 ## Findings - [Seat/cargo attach fitting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035347): 27 cases, 22 in the probable cause - [Fuselage main structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310): 24 cases, 18 in the probable cause - [Gear attach fittings (on fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343): 16 cases, 12 in the probable cause - [Rotorcraft tail boom](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302): 12 cases, 9 in the probable cause - [Frames (main fuselage)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035311): 8 cases, 4 in the probable cause - [Bulkheads (main fuselage)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035312): 8 cases, 5 in the probable cause - [Aerial tow equipment section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035301): 7 cases, 7 in the probable cause - [Fuselage attach fittings sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340): 5 cases, 5 in the probable cause - [Aerodynamic fairings structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035350): 5 cases, 5 in the probable cause - [Fuselage, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035300): 4 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Longerons/stringers (main fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035313): 4 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Plates/skins (aux fuselage)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035330): 4 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Equip attach fittings (on fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035345): 3 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Wing attach fittings (on fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035341): 2 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Engine attach fitting (on fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035346): 2 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Floor panels (aux fuselage)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035321): 1 cases, 0 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 21 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 15 cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 10 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 10 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 9 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 8 cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 7 cases - [Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094): 7 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 6 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 3 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 3 cases - [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 3 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 3 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 3 cases - [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 3 cases - [Beech G35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g35): 3 cases - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases - [Lockheed 382G-44K-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-382g-44k-30): 2 cases - [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r): 2 cases - [Boeing 737-3H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3h4): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 23 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 11 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 11 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 9 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 7 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 7 cases - [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 7 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 6 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 5 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA289), Jul 30, 2026: Beech A36 (N9144Q), Weston, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight opening of the engine cowling, which resulted in engine baffling separating from the airplane and impacting the right elevator. - [NTSB DCA26LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA142), Feb 27, 2026: Boeing 787 (JA873A), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The captain’s inadvertent activation of the takeoff/go around switch at touchdown that caused an increase in the airplane pitch attitude that was not corrected before the lower fuselage contacted the… - [NTSB DCA26LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA115), Feb 9, 2026: Airbus A321-271NX (N2188J), San Francisco, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first officer’s excessive aft sidestick input combined with decaying airspeed during initiation of a go-around, resulting in an increase in the airplane pitch attitude and subsequent lower… - [NTSB ERA25LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA337), Sep 5, 2025: Larocca Roch B Eracer MK II (N382RB), Mount Pleasant, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the nose gear actuator bolt during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and subsequent runway excursion. - [NTSB ANC25LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA096), Aug 18, 2025: Cessna A185F (N9BB), Haines, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing area resulting in an on-ground collision with an obscured log and a main landing gear separation. - [NTSB ERA25LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA114), Feb 3, 2025: Cessna 172P (N62112), Clarksville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, which allowed the partially secured engine cowl to separate in flight. - [NTSB DCA25LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA085), Jan 10, 2025: Boeing 767 (N324UP), San Bernardino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Encounter with windshear during landing which resulted in a tailstrike. - [NTSB DCA25LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA061), Dec 18, 2024: Lockheed 382G-44K-30 (N403LC), St. Mary's, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the forward pressure bulkhead canted web that originated from stress corrosion cracking areas. Contributing to the failure were inspection procedures and intervals inadequate… - [NTSB WPR24LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA319), Sep 26, 2024: Bell 206L (N9984K), Fern Prairie, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An aeroelastic interaction between the helicopter’s main rotor blades and nodal beam system, which resulted in oscillations that exceeded the design limits of the tailboom. Contributing to the… - [NTSB CEN24LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA342), Sep 5, 2024: Piper PA-28R (N4081S), Crystal, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the engine mount under normal operating loads due to the fracture of a vertical tube that was weakened by corrosion and fatigue of the internal surfaces. 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.