NTSB finding section · Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor

Cases
11
In the probable cause
7 (64%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
010400

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
Cases with Aircraft propeller/rotor, general per year: 11 cases
20091
20112
20122
20132
20151
20171
20181
20241
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\", '010400') 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.

Subsections · 1

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 8) AS code, max(f.\"tier4Name\") AS name,
    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
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '010400') AND f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY cases DESC, code"

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

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\", '010400'))
  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\", '010400') 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 · 11

NTSB ERA24LA276Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSnyder Searey · New Ipswich, NHA total loss of engine power due to the exhaust muffler and tailpipe assembly separating from its attach points and impacting the propeller.Jun 25, 2024 · N453TS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18FA258Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 47G · Arlington, INThe inflight separation of the upper transmission due to the thread failure of transmission housing attachment bolts, which were installed on the helicopter with thread damage from a prior installation.Jul 6, 2018 · N96195 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17LA121Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBob Frederick Titan T-51 · Goodyear, AZFailure of the propeller speed reduction gearbox input drive gear during the airplane’s initial climb for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive damage.Jun 4, 2017 · N51FB · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA196Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Forest City, SDThe pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance during takeoff, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.Jul 2, 2015 · N824DK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA524Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportStemme S10-VT · Mackinaw City, MIThe mechanic’s failure to inspect the tightness of the bolts that connected the flexible disk to the driveshaft, which resulted in the failure of these components.Aug 31, 2013 · N389BD · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA401Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportJDT 1600R · Chesaning, MIThe failure of the propeller reduction gearbox and the pilot’s subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall and spin. Contributing to the accident were…Jul 6, 2013 · UNREG · DestroyedNTSB ERA12IA459Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportSocata TB10 · Pawtucket, RIThe in-flight separation of the propeller blade tip due to a fatigue fracture.Jul 15, 2012 · N189TB · No damageNTSB WPR12LA096Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportArrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A · Brawley, CAThe failure of the main rotor mast due to fatigue cracks that originated from corrosion pits. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended overhaul interval for the main rotor mast.Jan 21, 2012 · N902SF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA464Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBurtner Charles W Derjager D IX · East Liverpool, OHThe pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing and propeller contact with the runway, which caused an in-flight disintegration of the propeller during the go-around, and subsequent collision with trees.Jul 7, 2011 · N7808M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA368Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Ann Arbor, MIThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from the propeller when exiting the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the instructor’s decision not to shut down the engine before exiting the airplane and the operator’s lack of a policy…May 25, 2011 · N222UM · No damage
See all 11 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\", '010400'))
  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.