# Empennage structure - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › Empennage structure - NTSB code: 010355 - Cases: 81 - In the probable cause: 63 - Fatal cases: 26 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 6 / 10 - 2009: 2 / 4 - 2010: 7 / 9 - 2011: 8 / 9 - 2012: 2 / 3 - 2013: 2 / 4 - 2014: 2 / 2 - 2015: 5 / 6 - 2016: 3 / 4 - 2017: 2 / 2 - 2018: 1 / 2 - 2019: 5 / 5 - 2020: 3 / 4 - 2021: 3 / 3 - 2022: 2 / 2 - 2023: 2 / 3 - 2024: 7 / 8 - 2025: 1 / 1 ## Findings - [Horizontal stabilizer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510): 23 cases, 17 in the probable cause - [Rudder](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540): 15 cases, 12 in the probable cause - [Empennage structure, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035500): 14 cases, 9 in the probable cause - [Vertical stabilizer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035530): 10 cases, 9 in the probable cause - [Elevators](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035520): 6 cases, 4 in the probable cause - [Tab structure (on elevator)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035523): 4 cases, 4 in the probable cause - [Horiz stab misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514): 3 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Elevator misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035524): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Rudder misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035544): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Attach fittings (flt controls)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035550): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Elevator/tab attach fitting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035552): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Spars/ribs (horizontal stab)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035511): 2 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Vertical stab attach fitting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035553): 2 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Rudder/tab attach fitting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035554): 2 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Spars/ribs (on elevator)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035521): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Spars/ribs (on vert stab)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035531): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Ventral struc (on vert stab)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035533): 1 cases, 0 in the probable cause - [Vertical stab misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035534): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Spars/ribs (on rudder)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035541): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Horizontal stab attach fitting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035551): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 21 cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 19 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 8 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 4 cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 4 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 4 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 3 cases - [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 3 cases - [Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271): 2 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 2 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 2 cases - [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3): 2 cases - [American Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7eca): 2 cases - [Luscombe 11A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-11a): 1 cases - [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4): 1 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 1 cases - [Aerospatiale ATR 72-212A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-atr-72-212a): 1 cases - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 1 cases - [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285): 1 cases - [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 13 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 9 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 7 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 5 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010) (Environmental issues): 4 cases - [Clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015) (Environmental issues): 4 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 4 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN25LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA086), Jan 16, 2025: American Champion 7ECA (N798L), Longview, TX, incident, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the lower hinge barrel due to fatigue cracking. Contributing to the failure of the lower hinge barrel was increased stress from end face contact likely associated with worn bushings or… - [NTSB ERA25LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA040), Nov 5, 2024: Hughes 369D (N11AS), Waycross, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain. - [NTSB WPR24LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA300), Aug 31, 2024: Pacific Aerospace 750XL (N902ST), Mulino, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The skydiver’s unintentional parachute deployment and subsequent entanglement with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer. - [NTSB DCA24LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA295), Aug 31, 2024: Airbus A330-323 (N808NW), Atlanta, GA, minor damage. Probable cause: Delta Air Lines flight crew’s incorrect evaluation of the clearance between their airplane and the airplane directly ahead of them as they made a 90 degree right turn onto an adjacent taxiway. - [NTSB ERA24LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA250), Jun 7, 2024: Piper PA28R (N287ND), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Excessive side loading of the vertical stabilizer. - [NTSB CEN24LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA197), May 25, 2024: Cessna U206 (N29173), Butler, MO, destroyed. Probable cause: The jumper’s unintentional deployment of his emergency parachute and subsequent impact with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer. - [NTSB ERA24FA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA217), May 15, 2024: Beech V35 (N47WT), Franklin, TN, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s flight into convective weather, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and a subsequent inflight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB CEN24FA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA160), Apr 16, 2024: Piper PA 46-350P (N451MA), Hartsburg, MO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with convective weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane’s never exceed speed, and the resulting overload failure of the… - [NTSB CEN24LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA162), Apr 12, 2024: American Champion 7ECA (N793L), Longview, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The rudder post’s failure due to corrosion fatigue. Contributing to the accident were the misalignment of the rudder hinge components, which produced mechanical binding and elevated localized stress,… - [NTSB WPR24LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA038), Nov 18, 2023: Beech 95 (N2024C), Yuma, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Aeroelastic flutter of the rudder control surface during the takeoff initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in the fracture of the… 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.