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Propeller assembly

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system

All 29 cases27 in the probable cause
Cases
29
In the probable cause
27 (93%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
01046110

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\", '01046110') 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\", '01046110'))
  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\", '01046110') 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 · 29

NTSB ANC25LA028Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Royal Kunia, HIImproper alteration of the crankshaft propeller flange at an unknown time, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the propeller assembly.Mar 27, 2025 · N261FC · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA332Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBucker Jungmann C.A.S.A. 1.131 · Red Hook, NYThe Great Lakes pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the Bucker Jungmann while maneuvering during an air show, which resulted in a midair collision, the inability of the Bucker Jungmann to maintain altitude, and its subsequent forced landing.Jul 28, 2024 · N1041U · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA260Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportKitfox Series V · La Grande, ORSeparation of the propeller blades from progressive damage at the blade roots due to overtightening of the hub bolts.Jul 23, 2024 · N53562 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA053Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeauchamp Norm Kitfox · Eloy, AZThe separation of a propeller blade during the initial climb due to insufficient blade retention forces. Contributing to the accident was the propeller blade retention design, manufacturing defects that prevented the propeller from achieving adequate grip…Dec 8, 2023 · N66180 · DestroyedNTSB WPR23LA149Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportStevens Kelly C RV-7 · Morgan, UTThe pilot/builder improperly torqued the propeller attachment bolts while reinstalling the propeller, which resulted in the fatigue failure of the bolts and the separation of the propeller assembly.Apr 9, 2023 · N17NK · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA289Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-23 · Easton, MDA total loss of left engine power and uncommanded feathering of the left propeller for reasons that could not be determined.Jul 15, 2021 · N776MC · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA223Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportZenith Zodiac 601 XL · McKenzie, TNThe improper installation and inspection of the propeller, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the propeller assembly.May 15, 2021 · N493TG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA117Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBlack Donald Cozy III · Los Lunas, NMThe seizure of the propeller gearbox for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing.Feb 17, 2018 · N904DB · Substantial damageNTSB ANC18LA008Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCloud Jeffrey Ferrell Long EZ · Eufaula, ALThe in-flight separation of a portion of the propeller, which subsequently penetrated the right rudder, as a result of the failure of the bond line between two of the propeller’s wood layers. Contributing to the failure of the propeller was the manufacturer’s…Nov 11, 2017 · N754T · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17LA333Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGulfstream American AA 5B · Carbondale, ILThe failure of the propeller due to fatigue as a result of improper installation by unknown maintenance personnel at some point during the life of the propeller.Aug 28, 2017 · N28005 · Substantial damage
See all 29 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\", '01046110'))
  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.