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Tail rotor drive shaft

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor drive system

All 25 cases20 in the probable cause
Cases
25
In the probable cause
20 (80%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
01046510

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\", '01046510') 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\", '01046510'))
  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\", '01046510') 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 ERA25LA040Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369D · Waycross, GAAn encounter with a foreign object, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.Nov 5, 2024 · N11AS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA263Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRotorway Exec · Alva, FLA loss of tail rotor control as a result of unsecured tail rotor drive belt tensioner bolts.Jun 14, 2024 · N99TE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA205Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus Helicopters AS350B3 · Plant City, FLThe pilot’s inadequate yaw control of the helicopter while maneuvering at a low altitude and airspeed, which resulted in a hard landing.May 1, 2024 · N413JM · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA013Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Glacier View, AKA sudden stoppage of the tail rotor for unknown reasons, which resulted in the tortional overload failure of the tail rotor driveshaft.Feb 11, 2024 · N74868 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA004Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Fresno, CAThe disbond of a tail rotor drive shaft splined adapter, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor drive and a subsequent hard landing.Oct 1, 2022 · N284CA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA340Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Banning, CAThe improper attachment of the tail rotor drive shaft to the air conditioner drive pulley without a drive ring, which resulted in the failure of the hardware, a loss of tail rotor drive, and the loss of control of the helicopter followed by a hard landing and…Sep 10, 2022 · N242BH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA389Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Arnaudville, LAThe loss of tail rotor drive due to a fatigue failure of the tail rotor gearbox output shaft, which resulted in a loss of control during landing.Aug 27, 2021 · N827SH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA339Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEnstrom 280 · Port Orange, FLThe failure of the tail rotor drive shaft at the coupling due to torsionally applied shear stress.Aug 21, 2021 · N9285 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21FA195Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 429 · Eden, NCThe impact of the main rotor blades with the tail boom during low-altitude maneuvers, which severed the tail rotor drive shaft and resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.Apr 28, 2021 · N53DE · DestroyedNTSB CEN17LA375Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH 12A · Griffith, INThe loss of tail rotor thrust due to a failed tail rotor driveshaft, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor control and a hard landing.Sep 11, 2017 · N2686 · 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\", '01046510'))
  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.