OpenAirDocs.org

Magneto/distributor

Open the Markdown

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system

All 101 cases87 in the probable cause
Cases
101
In the probable cause
87 (86%)
Fatal cases
18
NTSB code
01057414

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\", '01057414') 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\", '01057414'))
  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\", '01057414') 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 · 101

NTSB CEN25LA243Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStinson 108 · Seguin, TXThe pilot’s failure to turn off the magneto switch before repositioning the propeller by hand which resulted in an inadvertent engine start.Jul 8, 2025 · N97577 · No damageNTSB CEN24LA341Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12-D · Trojan, SDThe partial loss of engine power due to a loose magneto and subsequent impact with terrain.Sep 7, 2024 · N95078 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA313Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman G164 · Dyess, ARThe improper overhaul of the carburetor and the malfunction of left magneto which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.Aug 9, 2024 · N6569 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA269Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-36-375 · Avoca, NEA partial loss of engine power due to the loose left magneto which resulted in erratic engine timing.Jul 16, 2024 · N2386X · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA151Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPalmetto Electronics X-AIR H · Ellenboro, NCA total loss of engine power due to an inoperative ignition system.Mar 4, 2024 · N3505W · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA064Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · Spanish Fork, UTMaintenance personnel’s improper installation of the left magneto, which resulted in oil starvation to the engine and a subsequent total loss of engine power.Dec 21, 2023 · N453DS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA063Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T210 · Sapulpa, OKThe total loss of engine power due to the failure of the left magneto and subsequent damage to a lead for the right magneto.Dec 13, 2023 · N6789R · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA052Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182 · Manitowoc, WIMaintenance personnel’s improper servicing of the magnetos, which resulted in their accelerated wear, failure, and the total loss of engine power.Nov 30, 2023 · N8880T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24FA050Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA32R · Attalla, ALThe undetected wear of both pawl retaining rivets of the left magneto impulse coupling and fatigue failure of one pawl retaining rivet, which led to cascading fractures of the second pawl retaining rivet, left gear retainer assembly, and gear teeth of…Nov 27, 2023 · N4187Q · DestroyedNTSB CEN23FA410Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportSonex Sonex · Dowagiac, MIThe total loss of engine power due to the failure of the ignition distributor rotor.Sep 10, 2023 · N569SX · Substantial damage
See all 101 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\", '01057414'))
  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.