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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure

All 15 cases12 in the probable cause
Cases
15
In the probable cause
12 (80%)
Fatal cases
3
NTSB code
01035540

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\", '01035540') 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\", '01035540'))
  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\", '01035540') 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 · 15

NTSB CEN25LA086Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Champion 7ECA · Longview, TXThe 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.Jan 16, 2025 · N798L · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA162Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Champion 7ECA · Longview, TXThe 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…Apr 12, 2024 · N793L · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA038Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 95 · Yuma, AZAeroelastic 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.Nov 18, 2023 · N2024C · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA064Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-14 · Anchorage, AKThe 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…Jul 23, 2021 · N4206H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA294Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRockwell S2R · Harlan, IAThe fatigue fracture of the upper rudder hinge that resulted in a partial separation of the rudder from the airplane during a spray pass.Jul 20, 2020 · N1662S · Substantial damageNTSB ANC20LA059Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA 12 · Anchorage, AKThe 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…Jun 8, 2020 · N3188M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA051Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportParsons Two Place #1 · Naguabo, PRA failure of the rudder attachment bolt, which resulted in the rudder’s subsequent inflight separation from the fuselage.Dec 8, 2019 · N446PS · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA383Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA28 · Milton, FLThe 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.Jun 25, 2019 · N5697V · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA154Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 207 · Newtok, AKThe 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.Feb 25, 2018 · N1658U · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17FA134Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportJordan John RV7 · Arlington, AZThe 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.Jun 27, 2017 · N731RV · Destroyed
See all 15 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\", '01035540'))
  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.