OpenAirDocs.org

Fuel controlling system

Open the Markdown

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control

All 59 cases55 in the probable cause
Cases
59
In the probable cause
55 (93%)
Fatal cases
3
NTSB code
01057320

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\", '01057320') 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\", '01057320'))
  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\", '01057320') 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 · 59

NTSB ERA25LA242Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182 · Nahunta, GAThe pilot’s decision to fly an unairworthy airplane, which resulted in fire due to an unsecured carburetor bowl drain plug.Jun 26, 2025 · N4953N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA011Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSaint Glasair II SFT · Forest, VAThe installation of a non-failsafe coupler that resulted in the separation of the throttle cable from the throttle arm and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.Oct 11, 2024 · N952W · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA375Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802 · Hickory Valley, TNA partial loss of engine power due to a leak in the fuel control unit bellows, which resulted in the fuel valve moving to minimum fuel flow.Sep 10, 2024 · N802JF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA236Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Boerne, TXMaintenance personnel’s inadequate adjustment of fuel flow, which resulted in an excessively rich mixture, a rough-running engine, and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.Jun 23, 2024 · N87AQ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA193Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · Covert, KSThe improper maintenance of the fuel control unit, which resulted in air leakage and a loss of control of fuel flow to the engine.May 19, 2024 · N15189 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA074Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeck Michael J Sonex · Auburn, WAWater contamination within the fuel regulator air-reference system, which resulted in improper fuel metering and a loss of engine power during initial climb.Jan 16, 2024 · N920MB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA088Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B2 · Spofford, TXThe fatigue failure of the fuel control unit control lever arm, which resulted in fuel starvation, and a loss of engine power.Jan 12, 2024 · N204TX · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA231Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 207 · Harlingen, TXThe improper installation of the throttle control arm to the throttle control cable attachment end, which resulted in a failure of the control arm and a loss of engine power in flight.Jun 6, 2023 · N91157 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA405Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Tomball, TXThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight, which allowed for an unintentional movement of the mixture control to the cutoff position that remained unnoticed until the airplane lost engine power due to fuel starvation and descended below the…Sep 1, 2022 · N420SS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA391Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech F33A · Baton Rouge, LAThe sudden and total loss of fuel flow to the engine for undetermined reasons.Aug 18, 2022 · N17747 · Substantial damage
See all 59 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\", '01057320'))
  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.