# NTSB investigations: Empennage structure

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 2 · 81 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN25LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA086.md): American Champion 7ECA · Longview, TX · Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 16, 2025 · N798L · Substantial damage
  > 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 displaced needle bearings.
- [NTSB ERA25LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA040.md): Hughes 369D · Waycross, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 5, 2024 · N11AS · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR24LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA300.md): Pacific Aerospace 750XL · Mulino, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 31, 2024 · N902ST · Substantial damage
  > The skydiver’s unintentional parachute deployment and subsequent entanglement with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.
- [NTSB DCA24LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA295.md): Airbus A330-323 · Atlanta, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 31, 2024 · N808NW · 2 aircraft · Minor damage
  > 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.md): Piper PA28R · Vero Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 7, 2024 · N287ND · Substantial damage
  > Excessive side loading of the vertical stabilizer.
- [NTSB CEN24LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA197.md): Cessna U206 · Butler, MO · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 25, 2024 · N29173 · Destroyed
  > 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.md): Beech V35 · Franklin, TN · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 15, 2024 · N47WT · Destroyed
  > 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 lack of accurate weather intensity depiction on the…
- [NTSB CEN24FA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA160.md): Piper PA 46-350P · Hartsburg, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 16, 2024 · N451MA · Destroyed
  > 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 horizontal stabilizer and subsequent failure of the…
- [NTSB CEN24LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA162.md): American Champion 7ECA · Longview, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 12, 2024 · N793L · Substantial damage
  > 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, and a compromised the protective coating, which allowed…
- [NTSB WPR24LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA038.md): Beech 95 · Yuma, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 18, 2023 · N2024C · Substantial damage
  > 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 rudder trim control rod end in flight.
- [NTSB CEN24LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA035.md): Grassman Timothy B RV-14A · Houston, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 3, 2023 · N5875G · Substantial damage
  > The bird strike to the airplane’s vertical stabilizer during an approach for landing.
- [NTSB WPR23FA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA323.md): Hensler Howard Cassutt · West Jordan, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 23, 2023 · N6291N · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control during the initial climb for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB ERA23FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA045.md): Bearhawk Patrol · Hanover Township, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 29, 2022 · N964RS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to unlatch his seatbelt during flight, which allowed him to exit the airplane and impact the tail, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR22FA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA184.md): Bruce R Prouse M24 Orion Plus · Cape Girardeau, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 22, 2022 · N590DM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain controlled flight, which resulted in a hard left roll, excessive blade flapping and a subsequent in-flight separation of the right horizontal stabilizer.
- [NTSB ANC21LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA064.md): Piper PA-14 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2021 · N4206H · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel rudder post, which resulted in structural failure of the rudder. Contributing to the fatigue failure was the post’s susceptibility to fatigue cracking under normal service…
- [NTSB CEN21LA450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA450.md): Cessna 140 · Caddo Mills, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 22, 2021 · N84BC · Substantial damage
  > The missing vertical stabilizer hardware, which resulted in a severe uncommanded yawing motion that necessitated an emergency landing, during which the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.
- [NTSB ERA21LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA106.md): American AA5 · Leesburg, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 19, 2021 · N5880L · Substantial damage
  > The weakened structure of the left horizontal stabilizer, which resulted in elevator flutter and subsequent partial separation of the left elevator in flight. Contributing to the accident were the lack of elevator authority while landing due to the damaged…
- [NTSB CEN20LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA294.md): Rockwell S2R · Harlan, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2020 · N1662S · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the upper rudder hinge that resulted in a partial separation of the rudder from the airplane during a spray pass.
- [NTSB ANC20LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA059.md): Piper PA 12 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 8, 2020 · N3188M · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel rudder post, which resulted in structural failure of the rudder. Contributing to the fatigue failure was the post’s susceptibility to fatigue cracking under normal service…
- [NTSB DCA20LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20LA107.md): Boeing 737 · Victorville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 19, 2020 · N820TJ · Substantial damage
  > Improper installation of dorsal fin attach bolts which caused the dorsal fin to separate during flight, substantially damaging the left horizontal stabilizer.
- [NTSB CEN20LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA173.md): Titan Titan Tornado S · Haskell, OK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 9, 2020 · N318WH · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot/builder’s addition of winglets to the stabilator, which resulted in flutter and overstress failure of the stabilator control horn.
- [NTSB ERA20LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA080.md): Team Rocket F-1 F-1 · Suffolk, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 24, 2019 · N230BW · Substantial damage
  > A structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer during aerobatic maneuvers near the airplane’s never-exceed speed. Contributing to the failure was the construction of the horizontal stabilizer that did not meet the kit manufacturer’s specifications.
- [NTSB ERA20LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA051.md): Parsons Two Place #1 · Naguabo, PR · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 8, 2019 · N446PS · Substantial damage
  > A failure of the rudder attachment bolt, which resulted in the rudder’s subsequent inflight separation from the fuselage.
- [NTSB DCA20IA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20IA034.md): Airbus AS 350 B2 · Los Angeles, CA · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Dec 5, 2019 · N71HD · 2 aircraft · Minor damage
  > an inflight collision with a hard object of polycarbonate construction, with size and features consistent with that of a small UAS (drone).
- [NTSB CEN19LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA224.md): Piper PA18 · Osceola, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 14, 2019 · N6983B · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the right horizontal stabilizer during takeoff, resulting in a loss of control and forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an unapproved stabilizer frame and failure of maintenance personnel to identify…
- [NTSB GAA19CA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA383.md): Piper PA28 · Milton, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 25, 2019 · N5697V · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's intentional overapplication of rudder to avoid a ditch during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and landing gear collapse.
- [NTSB ERA19LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA050.md): Ultralite Sro Stingsport · Clermont, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 17, 2018 · N494N · Substantial damage
  > An inflight failure of the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.
- [NTSB GAA18CA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA154.md): Cessna 207 · Newtok, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 25, 2018 · N1658U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly check that the flight controls were correctly configured before takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR17FA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA134.md): Jordan John RV7 · Arlington, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2017 · N731RV · Destroyed
  > The inflight overstress separation of the vertical stabilizer and rudder during flight which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain airplane control. Contributing to the accident was an inflight collision with a bird.
- [NTSB WPR17FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA117.md): Cessna 180 · Ventura, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 1, 2017 · N3683C · Destroyed
  > The pilot's abrupt and substantial pullup maneuver while flying the airplane above the maneuvering speed, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. The reason for the pilot's maneuver could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB WPR17LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA034.md): Bell OH 58A · Sacramento, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 4, 2016 · N916PD · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the vertical stabilizer due to fatigue.
- [NTSB CEN16LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA281.md): Vans RV9 · Springfield, OH · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 2016 · N807LK · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to fly into known thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB GAA16CA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA308.md): Cessna 208 · Fort Dodge, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 5, 2016 · N750Z · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's failure to install the tail stand prior to passenger boarding, which resulted in a tail strike.
- [NTSB CEN16LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA154.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Kilbourne, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 18, 2016 · N301LA · Destroyed
  > The failure of the operator to comply with the terminating action of the airworthiness directive, which resulted in the subsequent failure and separation of the vertical stabilizer due to fatigue.
- [NTSB GAA16CA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA088.md): Day William L Minicoupe · Middle River, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 20, 2015 · N853WD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's incorrect installation of the rudder horn and failure to properly inspect the installation, which led to a loss of directional control during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR16FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA036.md): Barnett Allen S RV7 · Hurricane, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 10, 2015 · N307AB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s aerobatic maneuver leading to airspeeds above the airplane’s never exceed speed, which resulted in rudder flutter and an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ERA15FA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA331.md): Cornell W F/Sahakian J A JR Giles 202 (G202) · Newburgh, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2015 · N18FJ · Destroyed
  > Separation of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers from the fuselage due to a fracture that initiated at the bond between the left horizontal stabilizer and the flange that attached the horizontal stabilizer to the fuselage skin. The failure was likely…
- [NTSB CEN15IA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15IA385.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Joliet, IL · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Aug 27, 2015 · N900AM · Minor damage
  > A bird strike.
- [NTSB CEN15FA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA268.md): Piper PA 32 · Cuba, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 14, 2015 · N2966X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued flight into thunderstorm activity, which resulted in his loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane's design limits, and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reliance on onboard…
- [NTSB ANC15LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA037.md): Dehavilland DHC-3T · Skwentna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 4, 2015 · N3125N · Substantial damage
  > The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnel’s subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab.
- [NTSB CEN14LA508](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA508.md): Brupbacher Chris CB2000 · Reserve, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 21, 2014 · N5002E · Destroyed
  > The failure of the flight control rod bearing due to an undetected preexisting corrosion-induced crack, which resulted in the main rotor blades going to full pitch and the rotor mast folding; this allowed the pusher propeller to strike and sever the tail.
- [NTSB ANC14LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA035.md): Dehavilland DHC-3T · Homer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 30, 2014 · N3125N · Substantial damage
  > The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnel’s subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab.
- [NTSB CEN13CA550](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA550.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Princeton, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 13, 2013 · N526PU · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight collision with a bald eagle.
- [NTSB ERA13LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA198.md): Franke Russell J Searey · Polk City, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2013 · N92319 · Substantial damage
  > An inadvertent encounter with the water wake from a larger amphibious airplane before takeoff and the pilot's subsequent inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane during which he failed to note damage caused by the wake encounter.
- [NTSB ERA13CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA195.md): Phoenix Air U15 · Foscoe, NC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 6, 2013 · N94DK · Substantial damage
  > The motorized glider’s encounter with clear air turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage.
- [NTSB WPR13FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA086.md): Beech V35A · Woody, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 7, 2013 · N35SD · Destroyed
  > An in-flight encounter with icing conditions during descent, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall followed by an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB CEN13FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA073.md): Cessna 421C · Wells, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2012 · N67SR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the flight into an area of extreme weather, which led to the in-flight encounter with a thunderstorm and structural failure of the wings and tail.
- [NTSB WPR12FA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA421.md): Frederick F 1 · Reno, NV · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 14, 2012 · N158CF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s operation of the airplane above the established never-exceed speed and the incorrect installation of the trim tab control horn, which resulted in the flutter of the left elevator trim tab.
- [NTSB CEN12LA531](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA531.md): Ristine Avid Mark IV · Poplar Grove, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 9, 2012 · N1328L · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the lower right side longeron tail-spring support area during landing due to excessive corrosion.
- [NTSB WPR12MA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12MA034.md): Eurocopter EC 130 B4 · Pukoo, HI · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Nov 10, 2011 · N11QV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in marginal weather conditions, which resulted in the impact of the horizontal stabilizer and lower forward portion of the fenestron with ground and/or vegetation and led to…

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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", '010355'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355/cases

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