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Spark plugs/igniters

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system

All 38 cases37 in the probable cause
Cases
38
In the probable cause
37 (97%)
Fatal cases
7
NTSB code
01057421

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\", '01057421') 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\", '01057421'))
  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\", '01057421') 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 · 38

NTSB ERA25LA052Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172S · Chattanooga, TNA partial loss of engine power due to a fouled spark plug in engine’s the No. 4 cylinder. Contributing was the flight instructor’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted go-around following an unsuccessful landing approach in IMC, which…Nov 19, 2024 · N951JA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA230Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Hope Mills, NCA loss of engine performance due to carbon fouling of three spark plugs that, when combined with the airplane’s high gross weight condition, resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.May 26, 2024 · N33563 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA025Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Talkeetna, AKA degraded ignition system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the ignition system.Apr 21, 2024 · N77032 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA313Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPietenpol Aircamper · Gardner, KSA loss of engine power due to lead fouling of a spark plug.Jul 19, 2023 · N34KP · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA225Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20K · Hillsborough Township, NJThe partial loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel’s failure to ensure that the ignition harnesses were properly secured and the pilot’s inappropriate pitch control inputs, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and…May 6, 2023 · N262MK · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23FA188Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMiller Glenn F RV-12 · Climax, NCThe airplane owner/builder’s inappropriate use of a lower grade fuel than that required by the airplane and engine operations manual, which resulted in engine detonation and the degradation and eventual obliteration of the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinder spark plug…Apr 11, 2023 · N543GM · DestroyedNTSB ERA23LA120Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20C · Calhoun, GAA partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an improperly installed spark plug.Jan 28, 2023 · N5587Q · DestroyedNTSB CEN22LA334Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVan's RV-10 · Beaver Dam, WIThe improperly secured spark plug boot that resulted in smoke in the cockpit and a subsequent off-airport landing.Jul 22, 2022 · N4400K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA316Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 77 · Stanley, NMA loss of engine performance due to lead fouling of the lower spark plugs, which resulted in an off airport forced landing.Aug 12, 2021 · N3873Y · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA068Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportStinson 108-1 · Sterling, AKInsufficient available power as a result of low compression in three engine cylinders. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to takeoff with a slight quartering tailwind.Aug 2, 2021 · N8656K · Substantial damage
See all 38 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\", '01057421'))
  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.