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Propeller controlling system

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

All 25 cases23 in the probable cause
Cases
25
In the probable cause
23 (92%)
Fatal cases
3
NTSB code
01046120

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\", '01046120') 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\", '01046120'))
  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\", '01046120') 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 · 25

NTSB ANC24LA064Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDehavilland DHC-2T · Petersville, AKAn in-flight loss of thrust due to an uncommanded feathering of the propeller for reasons that could not be determined.Jul 13, 2024 · N535KT · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA208Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAdmore International Jets Aircam · DeLand, FLThe uncommanded movement of the left propeller into reverse during approach for undetermined reasons, resulting in an in-flight loss of control of the airplane at low altitude during approach.May 2, 2024 · N848HP · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA283Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech C35 · Rock Springs, WYMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the propeller pitch control rod castellated nut hardware, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the pitch control bearing and subsequent loss of engine RPM and thrust.Jul 20, 2023 · N620D · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA279Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEdmisten Robert Eugene SR Rans S-14 Airaile · Bonaire, GAThe pilot’s failure to properly adjust the propeller’s pitch angle, which resulted in a loss of thrust and an inability to maintain altitude.Jun 25, 2023 · N528RE · Substantial damageNTSB DCA22FA082Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · FieldFinal reportJoby Aero JAS4-2 · Jolon, CAThe separation of a propeller blade during expansion flight testing that resulted in cascading effects to include the separation of multiple propulsion motor/propeller assemblies and the loss of remote pilot control of the aircraft. Contributing to the…Feb 16, 2022 · N542AJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA077Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVelocity Elite RG · St. Petersburg, FLA failure of the propeller pitch change electric motor, which resulted in an improper setting for takeoff and a subsequent runway overrun. Also causal was the inadequate maintenance and inspection of the propeller system and the pilot’s failure to follow the…Jan 14, 2020 · N78BM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19LA313Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJackson Velocity · Mack, COA propeller overspeed due to failure of the electronic ignition timing ring attachment screws, and a runway overrun during the subsequent forced landing.Sep 3, 2019 · N2XF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19LA295Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Olney, TXA loss of thrust control due to a propeller surge event, which resulted in a forced landing shortly after takeoff.Aug 29, 2019 · N8517Q · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19LA232Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV7 · Ocean City, MDThe disconnection of the propeller governor control arm from the propeller governor due to a missing attachment bolt, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff when the governor control vibrated to a high pitch, low rpm setting.Jul 19, 2019 · N849GS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19LA214Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPipistrel Sinus · Haverhill, MAThe pilot's failure to utilize the proper procedure and unfeather the motorized glider’s propeller prior to an in-flight engine restart, resulting in a lack of thrust and subsequent forced landing.Jul 4, 2019 · N269PW · Substantial damage
See all 25 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\", '01046120'))
  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.