OpenAirDocs.org

Propeller hub section

Open the Markdown

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

All 13 cases12 in the probable cause
Cases
13
In the probable cause
12 (92%)
Fatal cases
0
NTSB code
01046114

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\", '01046114') 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\", '01046114'))
  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\", '01046114') 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 · 13

NTSB ERA25LA236Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSting Sport TL-2000 · Dunavant, VAThe inflight failure of the propeller due to its exceedance of the manufacturer’s overhaul requirement.Jun 20, 2025 · N878N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA117Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV-7A · Plainview, TXThe improper machining of the propeller blade bearing seat, which resulted in an inflight propeller blade fatigue failure. Contributing to the accident was the improper machining of the propeller hub and propeller blade root and machining surface quality…Mar 10, 2025 · N923ZA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA158Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRhoads Autogyro MTO Sport · San Manuel, AZThe fracture of the propeller hub due to corrosion pitting along the propeller blade root seat, which led to cracking that was propagated due to high-cycle fatigue.May 21, 2018 · N574BR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17LA082Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOTT 601XL-B · The Dalles, ORA partial loss of engine power due to the reverse bending fatigue failure of the propeller hub bolts, which resulted from the bolts not fitting tightly into the propeller hub holes. Also causal was the pilot's decision to use improper bolts for this type of…Mar 31, 2017 · N610TT · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16LA295Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA34 · Hollywood, FLMaintenance personnel’s failure to comply with an airworthiness directive for the propeller, which resulted in a propeller hub failure due to fatigue.Aug 19, 2016 · N16499 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14LA272Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLandrum Kelly T Vans RV6 · Suffolk, VAThe pilot/builder's decision to use a lubricant that was not designed for high-speed aviation applications, which resulted in the failure of the propeller needle thrust bearing due to the loss of lubrication from overheating, a total loss of aerodynamic…May 31, 2014 · N6RP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14LA118Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman American Avn. AA 5B · Willow Park, TXThe improper reinstallation of the propeller assembly, which resulted in the subsequent in-flight separation of the propeller.Jan 21, 2014 · N28578 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14LA046Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRovey Jason H RV-8 · Wickenburg, AZThe fatigue failure of a propeller pitch change pin due to excessive shot peening of the pin’s surface during the manufacturing process.Nov 2, 2013 · N391V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12LA143Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportReich Glastar · Caldwell, IDThe failure of a propeller blade at the hub due to fatigue cracking.Mar 22, 2012 · N617G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA412Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWheeler Vans RV-6A · Albany, ORThe in-flight separation of a propeller blade due to fatigue.Aug 28, 2011 · N642DW · Substantial damage
See all 13 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\", '01046114'))
  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.