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Horizontal stabilizer

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure

All 23 cases17 in the probable cause
Cases
23
In the probable cause
17 (74%)
Fatal cases
6
NTSB code
01035510

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\", '01035510') 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\", '01035510'))
  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\", '01035510') 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 · 23

NTSB ERA25LA040Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369D · Waycross, GAAn encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.Nov 5, 2024 · N11AS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA300Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPacific Aerospace 750XL · Mulino, ORThe skydiver’s unintentional parachute deployment and subsequent entanglement with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.Aug 31, 2024 · N902ST · Substantial damageNTSB DCA24LA295Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus A330-323 · Atlanta, GADelta 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.Aug 31, 2024 · N808NW · 2 aircraft · Minor damageNTSB CEN24LA197Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206 · Butler, MOThe jumper’s unintentional deployment of his emergency parachute and subsequent impact with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.May 25, 2024 · N29173 · DestroyedNTSB CEN24FA160Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA 46-350P · Hartsburg, MOThe 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…Apr 16, 2024 · N451MA · DestroyedNTSB WPR22FA184Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBruce R Prouse M24 Orion Plus · Cape Girardeau, MOThe 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.May 22, 2022 · N590DM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA106Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican AA5 · Leesburg, VAThe 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…Jan 19, 2021 · N5880L · Substantial damageNTSB DCA20LA107Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 737 · Victorville, CAImproper installation of dorsal fin attach bolts which caused the dorsal fin to separate during flight, substantially damaging the left horizontal stabilizer.May 19, 2020 · N820TJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA173Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportTitan Titan Tornado S · Haskell, OKThe student pilot/builder’s addition of winglets to the stabilator, which resulted in flutter and overstress failure of the stabilator control horn.May 9, 2020 · N318WH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA080Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportTeam Rocket F-1 F-1 · Suffolk, VAA 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.Dec 24, 2019 · N230BW · Substantial damage
See all 23 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\", '01035510'))
  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.