NTSB investigations
25 cases where NTSB found Tail rotor drive shaft.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
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\", '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.
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
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 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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…NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB CEN16LA047Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEurocopter EC120B · Goshen, INThe failure of the Thomas coupling at the interface with the main gear box tail rotor output shaft, which resulted in the helicopter's loss of tail rotor control.NTSB CEN16LA027Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · San Antonio, TXThe failure of the No. 3 tail rotor adapter and shaft due to a loss of torque on the retaining nut. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a requirement to inspect the tail rotor assembly for security in the helicopter manufacturer's maintenance manual…NTSB ERA16LA015Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L 3 · Dickinson, ALThe improper installation by company maintenance personnel of the securing hardware of a tail rotor driveshaft section, which resulted in that section of tail rotor driveshaft disconnecting and a complete loss of tail rotor thrust.NTSB CEN15LA412Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGuisinger Gary G Baby Belle · Stuart, IAThe failure of the tail rotor driveshaft for reasons that could not be determined due to the mechanically and thermally deformed fracture surface.NTSB ERA15LA218Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Kearny, NJThe deliberate concealment and reuse of an unairworthy tail rotor driveshaft by unknown personnel, which resulted in an overstress separation at a bonded flange adapter as a result of driveshaft imbalance.NTSB ERA13LA390Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters 47G · Sandy Hook, KYThe in-flight disengagement of the tail rotor extension shaft from the tail rotor gearbox, resulting in a loss of tail rotor control.NTSB ANC13FA017Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS350 B3 · Beluga, AKThe pilot's failure to stabilize the external load, which led to the synthetic long-line separating about midspan and the remaining line becoming entangled in the tail rotor gearbox output shaft and resulted in the separation of the tail rotor gearbox and…NTSB ANC12CA100Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAerospatiale AS350 B2 · Talkeetna, AKThe entanglement of a plastic tarp in the helicopter’s tail rotor after becoming dislodged from its securement.NTSB CEN12LA525Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 214ST · Avalon, TXMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly torque the retaining nut and install the cotter pin that secured the helicopter’s tail rotor counterweight bellcrank. Contributing to the accident was the lack of detailed maintenance records that documented…NTSB WPR11LA282Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH12E · Hanford, CAThe separation of the tail rotor drive gear shaft due to torsional fatigue of its threaded portion, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor control.NTSB CEN11LA315Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Edgerton, INA loss of clearance between the tail rotor drive shaft and the tailboom bulkhead for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the overstress failure of the drive shaft.NTSB CEN11IA156Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportSikorsky 92 · Galliano, LAThe misalignment of the retaining washer during routine maintenance, resulting in the subsequent separation of the washer and nut.NTSB WPR09LA226Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMD Helicopter 369FF · Santa Clarita, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering at low altitude as a result of the helicopter's grappling hook temporarily becoming ensnared with an underwater obstruction.NTSB CHI08LA104Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVic Tatelman Baby Belle · Lakeland, FLThe failure of the tailrotor driveshaft hanger bearing and jamming of the tailrotor.NTSB NYC08FA134Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 Beta II · Wilmington, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain proper rotor rpm after a partial loss of engine power.