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Fuel control/carburetor

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

All 195 cases181 in the probable cause
Cases
195
In the probable cause
181 (93%)
Fatal cases
29
NTSB code
01057322

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\", '01057322') 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\", '01057322'))
  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\", '01057322') 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 · 195

NTSB CEN26LA211Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-235 · Montevideo, MNA total loss of engine power on approach due to carburetor icing.Jun 1, 2026 · N15291 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA151Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Block Island, RIMaintenance personnel’s failure to ensure that the throttle cable was properly secured to the carburetor, which resulted an inflight separation of the throttle cable and the pilots’ inability to control the engine.Mar 25, 2026 · N7081H · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA105Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C · Brimfield, OHThe pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during descent in cold temperatures, which resulted in a total loss of engine power at an altitude too low for recovery.Feb 1, 2026 · N5930V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA056Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRotorway Exec · Lake Havasu City, AZThe pilot’s improper securing hardware installation, which resulted in a loss of throttle control and a loss of engine power.Dec 8, 2025 · C-GBZD · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA112Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Yakataga, AKThe total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat in meteorological conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing.Sep 22, 2025 · N4282F · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA189Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportChampion 7GCBC · Weyers Cave, VAA total loss of engine power on approach due to carburetor ice.Apr 26, 2025 · N9117L · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA025Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172A · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot’s decision to initiate the flight despite identifying a malfunction in the carburetor heat system during the pre-takeoff engine run-up, which led to a partial loss of engine power during climb out. Contributing to the accident was maintenance…Mar 16, 2025 · N7274T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA062Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAlexander S Rolinski BOT Journey · Ocean Isle Beach, NCMaintenance personnel’s failure to identify and remediate a buildup of oxides in one of the engine’s carburetors, which resulted in the seizure of the carburetor’s piston slide and a subsequent total loss of engine power during initial climb.Nov 27, 2024 · N814B · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA047Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing A75N1(PT17) · Huntington, WVThe pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat while operating the engine at low power and in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.Nov 18, 2024 · N55464 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA040Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172I · Mayer, AZThe accumulation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing.Nov 17, 2024 · N8390L · Substantial damage
See all 195 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\", '01057322'))
  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.