# NTSB investigations: Fuel controlling system

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 2 · 59 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA25LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA242.md): Cessna 182 · Nahunta, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 26, 2025 · N4953N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to fly an unairworthy airplane, which resulted in fire due to an unsecured carburetor bowl drain plug.
- [NTSB ERA25LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA011.md): Saint Glasair II SFT · Forest, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 11, 2024 · N952W · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ERA24LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA375.md): Air Tractor AT-802 · Hickory Valley, TN · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 10, 2024 · N802JF · Substantial damage
  > A 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.
- [NTSB CEN24LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA236.md): Cirrus Design SR22T · Boerne, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 23, 2024 · N87AQ · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance 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.
- [NTSB CEN24LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA193.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Covert, KS · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 19, 2024 · N15189 · Substantial damage
  > The improper maintenance of the fuel control unit, which resulted in air leakage and a loss of control of fuel flow to the engine.
- [NTSB WPR24LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA074.md): Beck Michael J Sonex · Auburn, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 16, 2024 · N920MB · Substantial damage
  > Water contamination within the fuel regulator air-reference system, which resulted in improper fuel metering and a loss of engine power during initial climb.
- [NTSB CEN24LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA088.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Spofford, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 12, 2024 · N204TX · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue failure of the fuel control unit control lever arm, which resulted in fuel starvation, and a loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN23LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA231.md): Cessna 207 · Harlingen, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 6, 2023 · N91157 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN22FA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA405.md): Cirrus SR22 · Tomball, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 1, 2022 · N420SS · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB CEN22LA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA391.md): Beech F33A · Baton Rouge, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 18, 2022 · N17747 · Substantial damage
  > The sudden and total loss of fuel flow to the engine for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CEN22LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA351.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206B · Arcadia, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 1, 2022 · N169AA · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly torque a fuel control unit B-nut, which resulted in a loss of engine power at low altitude and an impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA254.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Tredyffin, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 1, 2022 · N432CP · Substantial damage
  > The loosening of the throttle arm from the throttle body, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the engine, and a subsequent forced landing.
- [NTSB WPR21LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA351.md): George A. Thiel Just Aircraft Highlander · Monroe, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 21, 2021 · N488VG · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight malfunction of the throttle control pivot arm, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and the subsequent collision with terrain during the forced landing.
- [NTSB ERA21LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA359.md): Cessna 172S · Venice, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 9, 2021 · N782JA · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel’s failure to use the correct throttle linkage hardware when reinstalling the engine, resulting in a disconnection of the throttle during flight.
- [NTSB ERA21LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA297.md): Cessna 150 · Arden, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2021 · N3059X · Substantial damage
  > The inadequate inspection of the throttle control cable assembly, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight.
- [NTSB WPR21LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA078.md): Cessna P210N · Moab, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 2, 2021 · N833RT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper application of full throttle during takeoff, which resulted in loss of engine power due to an excessive fuel flow and overly rich fuel mixture.
- [NTSB ERA21LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA023.md): Bell 206 · Zephyrhills, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 16, 2020 · N777CP · Substantial damage
  > Improper torquing of the “B” nut at the fuel control unit, which led to a total loss of engine power and subsequent autorotation that resulted in substantial damage.
- [NTSB CEN20LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA113.md): Bell 206 · Clark, MO · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 5, 2020 · N32AE · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue failure of the pneumatic line for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR20LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA094.md): Ercoupe 415 · Torrance, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 25, 2020 · N3437H · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of power due to a malfunction of the throttle cable, which limited movement of the throttle body.
- [NTSB ERA20CA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA106.md): Aerospatiale AS350 · Tampa, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 18, 2020 · N188FS · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadvertent throttle reduction below idle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain following a power-off autorotation.
- [NTSB WPR19LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA190.md): Cessna P206 · Cascade, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 14, 2019 · N131DV · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to the pilot’s improper leaning of the engine.
- [NTSB CEN19FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA135.md): Piper PA34 · Anderson, IN · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 2 · Field · Final report · May 5, 2019 · N999CR · Substantial damage
  > The loss of left engine power due to an incorrectly adjusted fuel servo and the airplane's nose up trim which resulted in the airplane steep climb, loss of airspeed, and aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA19LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA074.md): Diamond DA20 · McCormick, SC · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 19, 2018 · N346MA · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power due to debris obstructing the metering plug orifice in the throttle and metering unit.
- [NTSB ERA19LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA015.md): Avid Avid Flyer · Grant-Valkaria, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 13, 2018 · N3HH · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to a carburetor malfunction, which resulted in a forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN18LA373](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA373.md): Cessna T310 · Laramie, WY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 6, 2018 · N376J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to properly adjust the fuel/air mixtures, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing to a field.
- [NTSB WPR18LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA128.md): Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164C · Maxwell, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 29, 2018 · N6674K · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to an uncommanded closing of the fuel shutoff valve, which terminated fuel to the engine. The reason for the fuel shutoff valve’s closure could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB ERA18LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA050.md): Cessna 152 · Everglades City, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 16, 2017 · N95550 · Substantial damage
  > The loose nut connecting the mixture control cable to the mixture control arm, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the mixture and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA18LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA033.md): Cessna 421 · Presque Isle, ME · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 22, 2017 · N421RX · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight leakage of fuel from the fuel injection system's mixture shaft onto the hot turbocharger, which resulted in an in-flight fire, and the pilot's inability to see the runway due to reduced visibility conditions and conduct a successful landing.
- [NTSB ENG18IA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG18IA003.md): Airbus A330-243 · Seattle, WA · Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Incident · Final report · Nov 7, 2017 · N375HA · Minor damage
  > The loss of control of the left-hand engine and the subsequent thermal damage to the left wing on landing during engine reverse operation was due to a blockage of the variable stator vane torque motor filter that resulted in the engine’s electronic engine…
- [NTSB ERA17LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA126.md): Eurocopter AS 350 · San Juan, PR · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 21, 2017 · N413LP · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's incorrect manipulations of the twist grip throttle control during a practice autorotation, which resulted in an engine overspeed and subsequent fire.
- [NTSB WPR16FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA166.md): Douglas TA-4K · Las Vegas, NV · Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 18, 2016 · N140EM · Destroyed
  > Foreign object debris in the engine's main fuel control unit, which restricted fuel flow and subsequently resulted in the loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the installation or addition of an extra seal during the main fuel control unit…
- [NTSB CEN16LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA227.md): Piper PA 28R-200 · Bowie, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 20, 2016 · N9336N · Substantial damage
  > The inadequate maintenance and inspection of the throttle control arm, which resulted in its in-flight separation and the subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR16FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA035.md): Aero Vodochody L 39C · Apple Valley, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 6, 2015 · N39AY · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power on takeoff, which resulted from a sudden over-temperature condition due to an improperly adjusted fuel control unit and the deteriorated condition of the fuel nozzles.
- [NTSB ERA15LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA341.md): Piper PA 28RT-201 · Russell Springs, KY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Sep 4, 2015 · N8162S · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel’s inadequate fuel injection servo maintenance due to an out-of-date AD list, which resulted in the fuel injection servo plug backing out of the threaded plug hole on the regulator cover of the fuel injection servo and subsequent total…
- [NTSB CEN15LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA239.md): Ayres S2R G6 · Tivoli, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 20, 2015 · N3300U · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the fuel control unit due to the worn stub shaft spline, which resulted in an engine overspeed. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the fuel control unit.
- [NTSB CEN14LA486](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA486.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Langola Township, MN · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 7, 2014 · N22WX · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel’s failure to apply sufficient torque on the throttle control lever nut, which resulted in a loss of throttle control and subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN14LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA312.md): Airbus Helicopters AS-350B2 · Texarkana, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2014 · N407EM · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the two fuel control unit drive bearings for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in an uncommanded engine acceleration and subsequent overspeed condition. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB WPR14CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA035.md): Piper PA 18-150 · Twin Falls, ID · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 26, 2013 · N83417 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of aircraft control during the rejected takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA13CA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA375.md): Mark C Pauls RV-7A · Cortland, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 25, 2013 · N411AK · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power during go-around due to incorrect maintenance of the fuel system by the pilot/builder.
- [NTSB WPR13LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA302.md): S.N.I.A.S. AS-350B Ecureuil · Hamilton, MT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 1, 2013 · N989WC · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of a pneumatic fuel controller pipe. Also causal was maintenance personnel’s failure to adequately maintain the pipe and replace it with a thicker type.
- [NTSB CEN12FA463](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA463.md): Mooney M20E · Marked Tree, AR · Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 21, 2012 · N1310W · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a malfunction of the fuel injection servo due to a damaged O-ring.
- [NTSB WPR12CA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA236.md): Bell 206B · Burbank, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 30, 2012 · N106TV · Substantial damage
  > The failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque an air tube fitting, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN12FA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA250.md): Sikorsky S-76B · Gulf of Mexico, LA · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 17, 2012 · N56RD · Substantial damage
  > The intermittent loss of engine power due to a "stuck" stepper motor in the No. 2 engine's fuel control as a result of an inadequate overhaul. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flying the helicopter with a known defect, his…
- [NTSB WPR11LA463](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA463.md): Cessna 177 · Rock Springs, WY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 23, 2011 · N3152T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not lean the fuel mixture prior to takeoff, which resulted in the engine's inability to attain sufficient power due to the rich mixture, and his inadequate preflight planning.
- [NTSB ERA11LA461](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA461.md): Piper PA-46-310P · Elizabethtown, NC · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 6, 2011 · N469CC · Substantial damage
  > The improper securing of a “B” nut on the power turbine control (Py) line by unknown maintenance personnel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use the manual fuel override switch.
- [NTSB ANC11IA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11IA059.md): Hughes 500D · McGrath, AK · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2011 · N315SH · Minor damage
  > A fatigue fracture of the governor-to-fuel control Pc line, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN11LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA339.md): MD Helicopter 369E · Victoria, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 16, 2011 · N4278T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to ensure that the governor limit switch was properly set, which resulted in reduced engine power.
- [NTSB WPR10LA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA376.md): Cessna 177 · Rawlins, WY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 31, 2010 · N35296 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, failure to properly use the takeoff checklist, and failure to lean the fuel mixture, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to attain sufficient airspeed due to the rich fuel mixture.
- [NTSB CEN10LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA353.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Penrose, AR · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 14, 2010 · N4257R · Substantial damage
  > The loss of partial engine power due to a fatigue crack in the engine's fuel control bellows.
- [NTSB CEN10LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA242.md): Jorritsma Jerrold S Berkut · Loveland, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 9, 2010 · N3255U · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to a malfunction of the fuel controller resulting in a compressor stall.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases

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