# Vertical stabilizer - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › [Empennage structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355) › Vertical stabilizer - NTSB code: 01035530 - Cases: 10 - In the probable cause: 9 - Fatal cases: 6 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035530/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035530/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035530 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 1 / 2 - 2011: 1 / 1 - 2014: 1 / 1 - 2015: 1 / 1 - 2016: 2 / 2 - 2017: 1 / 1 - 2023: 1 / 1 - 2024: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 4 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 2 cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 1 cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 1 cases - [Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271): 1 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201): 1 cases - [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a): 1 cases - [Quad City Challenger LSS](https://openairdocs.org/model/quad-city-challenger-lss): 1 cases - [Muse Robert E JR KR 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/muse-robert-e-jr-kr-2): 1 cases - [Grassman Timothy B RV-14A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grassman-timothy-b-rv-14a): 1 cases - [Levon G King VANS RV9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/levon-g-king-vans-rv9a): 1 cases - [Jordan John RV7](https://openairdocs.org/model/jordan-john-rv7): 1 cases - [Brupbacher Chris CB2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/brupbacher-chris-cb2000): 1 cases - [Cornell W F/Sahakian J A JR GILES 202 (G202)](https://openairdocs.org/model/cornell-w-f-sahakian-j-a-jr-giles-202-g202): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Rudder](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Fabrication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [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 CEN24LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA035), Nov 3, 2023: Grassman Timothy B RV-14A (N5875G), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The bird strike to the airplane’s vertical stabilizer during an approach for landing. - [NTSB WPR17FA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA134), Jun 27, 2017: Jordan John RV7 (N731RV), Arlington, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB WPR17LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA034), Dec 4, 2016: Bell OH 58A (N916PD), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the vertical stabilizer due to fatigue. - [NTSB CEN16LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA281), Jul 22, 2016: Vans RV9 (N807LK), Springfield, OH, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to fly into known thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA15FA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA331), Aug 28, 2015: Cornell W F/Sahakian J A JR Giles 202 (G202) (N18FJ), Newburgh, NY, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB CEN14LA508](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA508), Sep 21, 2014: Brupbacher Chris CB2000 (N5002E), Reserve, LA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB WPR11FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA155), Mar 7, 2011: Muse KR2 (N122B), Newberry Springs, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with severe turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. - [NTSB CEN09LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA023), Oct 18, 2008: Piper PA-36-285 (N57740), Silverton, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission wire. - [NTSB LAX08LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA160), May 31, 2008: Quad City Ultralight Challenger LSS (N95478), Moses Lake, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to maintain control due to an in-flight separation of the vertical fin as a result of the failure of the airplane's builder to properly secure the vertical fin to the fuselage. 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.