NTSB investigations
23 cases where NTSB found Tail rotor, general.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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\", '01046400')) 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.
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", '01046400')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB CEN25LA013Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRotorway Exec · Plymouth, INA loss of control due to the failed forward tail rotor belt as a result of the owner’s failure to follow the helicopter manufacturer’s tail rotor belt replacement recommendations.NTSB WPR24LA243Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Cottonwood, AZThe pilot’s low-speed, high-power maneuvering in high density altitude and near maximum gross weight, which resulted in an uncommanded right yaw due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a subsequent hard landing.NTSB CEN23LA385Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 · Hibbing, MNThe ground crew’s failure to secure the backpack at the landing zone (LZ), that resulted in the tail rotor impacting the backpack during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate selection of an area at the LZ, the lack of awareness…NTSB CEN22LA328Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC 135 · Mount Vernon, ILThe inadequate securement of the cloth fire extinguisher cover, which resulted in it being blown off the fire extinguisher and ingested into the helicopter’s fenestron during the landing.NTSB CEN22LA258Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ · Waukesha, WIThe separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA21LA357Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEnstrom F28 · Toughkenamon, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an out-of-ground effect hover in a gusty wind, due to loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB WPR20LA244Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Eurocopter AS350 · Pioche, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude from terrain and subsequent loss of helicopter control due to entanglement of the external load cable with the tail rotor.NTSB WPR20LA130Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell UH 1H · Mesa, AZAn in-flight separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the airframe due to fatigue failure of the gearbox attachment studs, resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact. Contributing to the accident were 1) the improper application…NTSB GAA18CA117Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes Helicopters 369 · Wrightwood, CAThe pilot’s high altitude, high gross weight landing with insufficient tail rotor thrust resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB ERA16CA160Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Baltimore, MDThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB CEN16LA401Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAgustawestland Philadelphia AW139 · Galliano, LAThe fatigue failure of a tail rotor blade erosion shield extension, which resulted in in-flight damage to a main rotor blade.NTSB GAA16LA056Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAirbus EC135 · Apple Valley, CAThe ingestion of a towel from an unsecured storage container at the landing site into the helicopter's fenestron during the landing.NTSB CEN15LA265Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Pecan Island, LAThe fatigue fracture of the tail rotor gearbox attachment studs, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor control and a subsequent hard landing.NTSB CEN15LA156Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAgusta Aerospace AW119 Mkii · Gulf of MexicoThe fracture of the tail rotor pitch change link due to excessive bearing rotational friction, which resulted from the bearings being installed in exceedance of the maximum allowable torque during the last overhaul of the pitch change link.NTSB ERA13FA273Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Manchester, KYThe pilot’s loss of helicopter control due to spatial disorientation when he inadvertently encountered night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the main rotor and tailboom.NTSB CEN13LA115Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Corcoran, MNThe pilot’s improper decision to land the helicopter in a position that placed the tail rotor near tarps, which resulted in the tarps being lifted into the tail rotor, subsequent tail rotor damage, a loss of tail rotor authority, and an uncommanded tail rotor…NTSB WPR12IA248Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B2 · Seattle, WAFailure of maintenance personnel to ensure that the tail rotor pitch change link bolt was properly secured, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the bolt and subsequent vibration.NTSB ERA12CA357Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes TH-55 · Pittsfield, PAThe student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB ERA11IA320Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Mariner · Redding, CTThe pilot's inadequate helicopter preflight inspection and the mechanic’s inadequate annual inspection, both of which failed to detect a worn bolt in the tail rotor teeter hinge prior to its fracture due to fatigue.NTSB CEN10FA509Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Walnut Grove, ARThe pilot’s loss of aircraft control, due to spatial disorientation, resulting in the in-flight separation of the main rotor and tail boom.NTSB CEN10IA314Incident · Minor injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Gulf of MexicoA suspected failure of the tail rotor for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the failure of the emergency floats to properly inflate due to improper installment and inspection by maintenance personnel.NTSB CEN09CA394Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportSidler Mike Rotorway · Waxahachie, TXThe pilot’s failure to control his rate of descent during autorotation, which required an aggressive recovery maneuver and resulted in a sudden loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB SEA08CA124Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Murietta, CAThe flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A contributing factor to the accident was the dual student's improper flare.