NTSB investigations
10 cases where NTSB found Tail rotor drive system, general.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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\", '01046500')) 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", '01046500')) 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 ANC24LA077Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Honolulu, HIA failure of the flex plate yoke flange assembly due to incorrectly torqued bolts. Contributing was the maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the tail rotor flex plate assembly.NTSB CEN19LA174Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Key West, FLThe failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure the right-side tail boom mounting bolts which resulted in the failure of the bolts and an inflight separation of the tail rotor.NTSB CEN19LA065Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Uvalde, TXThe slipping of the sprag clutch due to galling of the sprags and corresponding sprag contact surfaces within the clutch assembly, which rendered the helicopter uncontrollable.NTSB CEN18LA247Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSafari 400 · Aguilares, TXThe loss of tail rotor control due to the in-flight failure of the tail rotor pinion.NTSB CEN15LA379Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Ketchum, OKThe separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the tailboom aft bulkhead due to overstress loads imposed by a blade imbalance from an in-flight impact with an undetermined object.NTSB WPR14LA225Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEmery Mark Rotorway 162F · Merced, CAThe helicopter pilot/owner's decision to install a belt type not recommended by the kit manufacturer in the tail rotor drive system using the incorrect tension values, which led to the belt’s in-flight failure and the subsequent loss of tail rotor drive…NTSB ERA12LA368Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer 269C · Piney Flats, TNThe mechanic’s improper maintenance of the main transmission aft pinion nut and belt drive system, which resulted in the uncoupling of the tail rotor driveshaft and the subsequent loss of helicopter control.NTSB CEN12LA181Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky 269C · Staples, TXThe pilot's failure to attain the proper descent rate during autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the inflight vibrations and loss of torque pedal response for undetermined reasons.NTSB CEN11LA414Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom F-28C-2 · Blair, NEThe failure of a tail rotor pitch change link due to the retaining bolt becoming separated in flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.NTSB NYC08CA252Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBuschmann Robert E Helicycle · Stuart, FLThe pilot's improper decision to take off with a known discrepancy. Contributing to the accident was spilled fuel on the drive belts.